New Delhi: Manchester United can’t catch a break at the moment. After squandering a golden opportunity to salvage a horror campaign on Wednesday in the Europa League final, no player representing the most successful English club was selected in England’s squad for next month’s international fixtures against Andorra and Senegal.
While Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney has earned a shock recall after being left out by Thomas Tuchel in his first England squad in March, there are some notable exclusions in the squad for next month’s matches.
Manchester City star Phil Phoden misses out due to poor form and an ankle injury, while striker Marcus Rashford, on loan at Aston Villa from United, misses the cut after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury. He was the only United representative (albeit on loan) for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
The absence of the United quartet and comeback hopefuls Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire is a matter of another embarrassment for Premier League giants.
If finishing 16th – their worst finish since the inception of the Premier League – and losing the Europa League final to a depleted Tottenham Hotspur squad was not enough, zero representation from the club in the country’s international fixtures sums up the sorry state of affairs of 20-time English champions.
Major embarrassment for United
It is also a clear reflection of how Tuchel rates the current set of United players, finding them unworthy of selection even in the 26-strong squad. Not a single United player coming into the German manager’s thoughts ahead of the June international window is a grim reading for United fans.
Meanwhile, Toney has earned a deserved call-up and will wear the England whites since he moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli from Brentford last summer.
The 29-year-old’s most recent of his six England appearances came in the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain.
He has been rewarded for a prolific season in the Saudi League where he has scored a whopping 28 goals in 42 appearances for Al-Ahli.
West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen is among the list of notable absentees, while Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton also misses out.
Marc Guehi, who featured in Euro 2024, is sidelined due to an eye injury he suffered in Palace’s FA Cup final win against Manchester City last week.
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has earned a maiden call-up to the senior squad.
England take on Andorra in the World Cup qualifier on Saturday, June 7, at the RCDE Stadium in Catalonia before locking horns with Senegal in a friendly in Nottingham on Tuesday, June 10.
England squad:
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dan Burn, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Conor Gallagher, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice.
Attackers: Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins.
With no Man United player selected in the England squad for upcoming international fixtures, things can’t get worse for the 20-time English champions. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
