England announce squad for Nations League finals with Harry Kane included and Kieran Tripper dropped

England have announced their squad for the Nations League finals next month with captain Harry Kane included after the Tottenham striker’s successful recovery from an ankle injury.

Gareth Southgate has cut down the initial squad of 27 with Kane’s teammates Kieran Tripper and Harry Winks both missing out, as do Southampton duo James Ward-Prowse and Nathan Redmond.

The squad have begun their preparations for the semi-final against Netherlands at St. George’s Park with those involved in the Champions League final between Tottenham and Liverpool due to join them next week.

“We have got exciting players and picking a squad is really difficult because we have lots of depth of talent, not only the squad we have picked but the U21s as well,” Southgate said.

“There’s been some difficult decisions to make and we are obviously a little bit complicated with so many players involved in the Champions League as well but we are really excited by the squad and the players that are around it.

“It’s similar to the preparation for the World Cup because people arrived at different times depending on whether they were finished at the end of the league season, played in the FA Cup or played in the Champions League. It was the same last year so we have got used to working with the group in that way.

“And what is nice is you get another burst of energy as each group arrives – so today [Monday], Raheem, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Jadon in for the first time. Again, the training shifts up another level and everybody is excited to be back together and we will get that again next week when the rest of the team report as well.” 

Explaining his decision to drop Trippier, Winks, Ward-Prowse and Redmond, Southgate added: 

 “Some players who have had really good finishes to the season like James Ward-Prowse and Nathan Redmond are staying with us for this period to train because although we have cut the squad to 23, we have still got two weeks to get through and two really big finals ahead. So some of those calls are even more difficult.

“Harry Winks is a player we really like and that’s a tough one because he’s not played for a couple of months and we don’t get to see him in training. He is back training with Spurs, he might be involved at the weekend but we wouldn’t see him until two days before the game.

“So when we had other midfielders who are either with us or who are playing regularly, that was the only thinking behind that decision. Harry could still come into that mix and has done very well for us whenever he has played with England, so is a player we like.

“Of course, Kieran Trippier has had such a big impact, he had such a brilliant World Cup. He has been a really valuable member of our squad and has a great attitude with us, real passion in playing for England but Trent and Kyle have finished the season so strongly. So it is a position where we have got real competition for places. That is as hard a decision as we have had to make.”

Full squad

Pickford (Eve), Walker (Man City, Rose (Tot), Dier (Tot), Stones (Man City), Maguire (Lei), Lingard (Man United), Henderson (Liv), Kane (Tot), Sterling (Man City), Sancho (Bor), Gomez (Liv), Butland (Sto), Chilwell (Lei), Keane (Eve), Rice (Wes), Delph (Man City), Barkley (Che), Rashford (Man United), Alli (Tot), Wilson (Bou), Alexander-Arnold (Liv), Heaton (Bur).