England squad LIVE: Eberechi Eze called up as Gareth Southgate names squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers

Southgate said at a press conference, about the decision to leave Sterling out: “I spoke with him a week or so ago – a general catch-up.

“He’s not happy physically with his condition, having been carrying a hamstring problem. He really wasn’t in consideration.

“We didn’t get to the point of whether he should be in or out. He doesn’t think he is operating at the level he needs.”

Raheem Sterling was one of the high-profile names left out of Southgate’s 25-man squad.

Sterling, who has won 82 caps, has endured a difficult first season since joining Chelsea from Manchester City.

A representative for the forward told the PA news agency: “Following a private conversation between coach and player, a mutual decision has been made for Raheem Sterling to sit out the upcoming internationals, focusing instead on recuperating his body in preparation for the upcoming season.”

Lewis Dunk was recalled by Southgate, having last played for England in 2018, but has impressed for Brighton as they contemplate European football next season.

Tyrone Mings also makes his return to the squad, having last played in March 2022.

In the absence of Nick Pope, Sam Johnstone was brought back into the Three Lions’ squad.

Kalvin Phillips remains part of Gareth Southgate’s squad, despite his limited involvement for Manchester City this season.

The 27-year-old has made just 26 appearances this campaign, of which seven have been in an England shirt.

Phillips has found his opportunities at City severly restricted - to just one Premier League start, and just nine times coming on from the bench.

The Squad: Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United)

Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), James Maddison (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)

Nick Pope has been left out of the England squad for the upcoming matches against Malta and North Macedonia.

The Newcastle goalkeeper has played 10 times for England since he received his first cap back in 2018.

Pope travelled to the Qatar World Cup in the winter, but was an unused substitute during England’s journey to the quarter-finals.

Eberechi Eze has received his maiden call up to the senior squad, having played at both under-20 and under-21 level previously.

Callum Wilson could be an attractive option for Gareth Southgate, especially with the ban issued to Brentford’s Ivan Toney.

The forward has scored 11 goals since Southgate left him out of the squad for the European Championship qualifiers in March, with Toney earning his first cap despite having already been charged by the FA for betting offences.

Wilson went to the World Cup in Qatar, but his club form struggled afterwards, although he has improved towards the end of Newcastle’ Premier League campaign.

Southgate could choose to be slightly cautious over including Bellingham in the squad.

The midfielder, who has been linked with a Premier League move in the summer although he currently plays for Borussia Dortmund has had a slight injury issue.

Bellingham missed Dortmund’s win at Augsburg on Sunday with a knee issue, and is a doubt for the final Bundesliga game of the season next weekend against Mainz.

Given it’s the end of the season, the fixtures are not the most testing of the campaign, the volume of action some players have seen and the fact it was a mid-season World Cup this year, it might not be a big surprise to see Southgate name two entirely different lineups for these fixtures - or close to it, anyway.

Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford and the like might expect to feature in both, fitness pending, but there’s scope to hand chances out elsewhere.

Upcoming fixtures for England:

• Away vs Malta, 16 June (7:45pm kic-off)
• Home vs North Macedonia, 19 June (7:45pm kick-off)

Worth pointing out that Man City’s players will be called up, but will arrive late and miss the first few training sessions due to their involvement in the Champions League final.

The likes of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and perhaps Kalvin Phillips could therefore be more likely to feature in the second match rather than the first, especially if - as expected - Southgate names a bigger squad than might usually be the case.