England manager Sam Allardyce eager to meet up with first squad ahead of Slovakia and Malta clashes

Sam Allardyce will meet his new England squad on Monday morning, with Michail Antonio on hand for the first time but Ross Barkley and Jack Wilshere conspicuous by their absence.

Allardyce named a 23-man squad after Sunday's Premier League fixtures, handing a surprise call-up to West Ham midfielder Antonio and a cold shoulder to the Everton and Arsenal mainstays.

There were five changes to Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 panel, with Luke Shaw, Phil Jagielka, Danny Drinkwater and Theo Walcott all earning recalls.

Wilshere's omission is understood to have been for a combination of footballing and fitness reasons - he has made just two substitute appearances this season - but Barkley has been axed despite a strong start to the campaign including two goals in four matches.

The retired James Milner, the injured Ryan Bertrand and Marcus Rashford, who had already been named in the under-21 squad, were the others to drop out.

Explaining his decision to bring in 26-year-old Antonio, who progressed through the divisions for the best part of a decade before landing at West Ham last September, Allardyce told FATV: "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.

"Last year his impact on West Ham was only overshadowed by (Dimitri) Payet.

"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."

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The 26-year-old, who eight years ago was making his way with Tooting and Mitcham, told West Ham TV: "I've always dreamt of playing for England as a kid, so now for it to happen after I've worked my way from non-league to where I am now, I am just so happy.

"I turned down an approach from Jamaica in March and for this to happen so quickly, I'm buzzing."

Allardyce also had a message for those who did not make his first cut, with the likes of Fabian Delph and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain likely to harbour disappointments of their own along with Wilshere and Barkley.

"Anyone who's been in the squad before we will continue to monitor and watch the players" he said.

"We will keep an eye on everybody and who's to say the squad will be the same the next time round? Everybody hopefully keeps in good form and keeps the pressure on me."

The return of Manchester United defender Shaw was expected and he is now ready to resume his international career after making a successful return to action from the double leg break that sidelined him throughout the 2015-16 campaign.

"I spoke to Jose (Mourinho) last week, got a little bit of verification on what we had already seen," said Allardyce. "He thought he was in terrific form and after such a bad injury it's great to see him back."

PA.