Michail Antonio Gets England Call Up

 

West Ham's Michail Antonio is the only uncapped player named in Sam Allardyce's first squad since becoming England manager. Along with Antonio, Luke Shaw and Phil Jagielka return to the squad after injuries last season kept them out of contention for a place in Roy Hodgson's squad for Euro 2016.

Antonio has played at right-back and in midfield for the Hammers this season, but is listed as a midfielder in Allardyce's squad for the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in Trnava on September 4.
The 26years old, who stands at 5ft 11ins, has scored eight headed goals since his arrival at West Ham in the summer of 2015, more than any other player in the Premier League. The most recent of those came in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City.

Allardyce said this on the FA's website “I think he's in outstanding form, This is another lad with a great journey - it's a fantastic journey that he's been on, from non-league to now an international call-up. He scored nine goals in his first season and he's a terrific athlete, a good crosser and a goal-scorer. I'm looking forward to him coming, and looking forward to meeting everybody. Hopefully we will have a good few days' preparation and get to know each other on the basis of trying to go and win in Slovakia.”

As Allardyce had confirmed, Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart retains his place in the squad alongside fellow 'keepers Fraser Forster and Tom Heaton. Of those who went to France in the summer, Marcus Rashford is left out while injured duo Ryan Bertrand and Jack Wilshere and Everton midfielder Ross Barkley are omitted.

Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Forster (Southampton), Hart (Man City), Heaton (Burnley)
Defenders: Cahill (Chelsea), Clyne (Liverpool), Jagielka (Everton), Rose (Tottenham), Shaw (Man Utd), Smalling (Man Utd), Stones (Man City), Walker (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Alli (Tottenham), Antonio (West Ham), Dier (Tottenham), Drinkwater (Leicester), Henderson (Liverpool), Lallana (Liverpool), Rooney (Man Utd), Sterling (Man City), Walcott (Arsenal)
Forwards: Kane (Tottenham), Sturridge (Liverpool), Vardy (Leicester)