Bowen and Justin earn first England call-ups as Tomori returns

Jarrod Bowen and James Justin have earned their first England call-ups with Fikayo Tomori also recalled by Gareth Southgate.

But Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is rested for the Nations League games with Hungary, Germany and Italy next month.

Bowen, 25, missed out on the March squad through injury but has now been selected after a stunning campaign for West Ham.

"We were certainly thinking about involving him in March before he got injured," Southgate, 51, said.

"He’s a goal threat — he’s direct. His journey is really interesting in terms of the experiences he’s had.

"It’s a reminder that you don’t just have to be at an elite academy and come through that pathway. Playing in the lower divisions and to have that experience is a great route to go.

"He works incredibly hard for the team, which we want all our forward players to do. He’s thoroughly deserved his call-up."

Leicester full-back Justin, 24, was namechecked by Southgate in March 2021 after rupturing his ACL as a player who would have had a chance at making the Euro 2020 squad prior to his injury.

Though a right-back by trade, he has spent much of his senior career filling in on the opposite flank and is likely to get a chance on that side with no recognised left-back in the squad.

Southgate added: "He is a player that we've followed for a long time and he obviously had a very serious injury. We feel he's now played the number of matches needed. 

"He's comfortable at right or left-back — he's very comfortable with the ball and a super athlete. 

"He's a very good person from the feedback I've had and we're really looking forward to working closely with him."

Fellow defender Tomori, 24, was a surprising omission from the squad back in March after impressing for AC Milan in Serie A.

He played more minutes than any other outfield player as Milan won the Scudetto for the first time in 11 years.

Big decisions

Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips and Newcastle right-back Kieran Trippier also return after missing the March games through injury, while Kyle Walker is back in the mix after being rested for the friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, John Stones, Tammy Abraham and Bukayo Saka were all forced to pull out of the previous squad but have kept their spots.

Tyrone Mings and Emile Smith Rowe are not included in the group, nor is Luke Shaw, who missed the final eight games of Manchester United’s season with a leg problem.

Southgate admitted that Tomori's form — and that of Marc Guehi — meant they had moved ahead of Mings in the pecking order.

He said: "Fikayo has had a very good season with Milan. 

"I talked in March about looking at some of the younger centre-backs coming through, such as Marc Guehi. 

"I think those guys have had very good seasons and, at this moment in time, are ahead of Tyrone. 

"Tyrone has always played very well for us. 

"They are always difficult calls because you’ve got a sense of loyalty to players who have done well, but we have to make opportunities for good young players so we can see them and see what they might be capable of."

Fraser Forster, Tyrick Mitchell, Kyle Walker-Peters and Ollie Watkins were all late call-ups in March and are not included this time around.

Maddison misses out

Another player pushing hard for a recall was Leicester's James Maddison.

Southgate acknowledged that the Foxes No10 had ended the campaign in superb form, but getting a spot ahead of Mason Mount or Phil Foden is not easy.

The Three Lions boss said: "He has finished the season very well. He is obviously scoring goals but we just feel we are very happy with the players that have been with us. 

"He is competing with Mason Mount and Phil Foden and these types of players in the role where he is at his best. It's one of the positions where there is a lot of strength in depth and you may have to leave players out who may be equally as deserving."

Southgate's men travel to Hungary on June 4 and Germany on June 7, before home games with Italy on June 11 and Hungary on June 14.

Both the trip to Budapest and home game with the Italians will be played behind closed doors after crowd trouble at Euro 2020.

England squad in full

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Coady (Wolves), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), James Justin (Leicester), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ben White (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).

Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Roma), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).