Gareth Southgate has named his first England squad since taking over from Sam Allardyce, and his first move has been to call up Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard.
Uncapped Lingard was handed his first call-up for the friendly with France last November, but is yet to play a senior game for his country.
Marcus Rashford also returns to the fold after scoring a hat-trick for the Under-21s last time out, and Michail Antonio of West Ham United keeps his place after being handed a first call-up by Allardyce.
But there is no place for Burnley defender Michael Keane, who some had tipped for a call-up.
Under-21 boss Southgate was put in temporary charge of the senior side after Allardyce left the role by mutual consent, and will take charge of England’s next four games including the upcoming World Cup qualifying double-header against Malta and Slovenia.
Interim manager @GarethSouthgate has named a 23-man squad for the #ThreeLions' upcoming @FIFAWorldCup qualifiers: pic.twitter.com/0Tmk87mLAA
— England (@England) October 2, 2016
Former Middlesbrough manager Southgate will look to build on the victory over Slovakia recorded in Allardyce’s first and only game.
Allardyce’s England tenure came to an end after just 67 days, after what the FA described as “inappropriate” conduct, thought to relate to footage obtained from an undercover investigation from the Telegraph.
He could yet face a ban from football, according to comments made by FA chief executive Martin Glenn.
England face Malta at Wembley on October 8, before travelling to Ljubljana to face Srečko Katanec’s Slovenia team.
