Daily Mail
Harry Maguire has been included in Gareth Southgate's squad to face Iceland and Denmark next month despite assault and bribery accusations.
As Sportsmail reported on Tuesday morning, Maguire wanted to be considered for selection and England boss Southgate was minded to call up his under-fire central defender despite the Manchester United skipper's court case in Greece on Tuesday.
And Southgate has indeed included Maguire, who is still waiting to hear the verdict from Tuesday's tour hearing in Syros.
Harry Maguire has been included in Gareth Southgate's squad to face Iceland and Denmark next month despite assault and bribery accusations.
As Sportsmail reported on Tuesday morning, Maguire wanted to be considered for selection and England boss Southgate was minded to call up his under-fire central defender despite the Manchester United skipper's court case in Greece on Tuesday.
And Southgate has indeed included Maguire, who is still waiting to hear the verdict from Tuesday's tour hearing in Syros.
'You always make decisions to the best of your ability given the information you have. People may agree or disagree with those decisions, but it is a position where every manger finds himself.
'Harry regrets the fact he has brought that sort of focus and attention to the team - he apologised for that - but also has his own side of the story.'
Elsewhere, Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been handed his first call-up by Southgate following a string of impressive displays in his club's promotion season.
'I am over the moon. It is massive news for me, the club and my family. I am grateful for the opportunity,' Phillips said after his inclusion.
'My agent rang me and said Southgate had been in touch and he wanted to speak to me. He rang me on my way to training and I was very nervous.
'I don't think I expected to get into the England squad this early in the season, maybe I got lucky I don't know. I am obviously a very happy person.'
As expected, Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood have been handed their maiden call-ups by the England manager, while Kyle Walker has been handed a recall.
However, Jack Grealish has been overlooked again despite his excellent form for Aston Villa last season.
Grealish infamously flouted isolation rules during lockdown which may have had an influence on Southgate's decision, although Walker did too but is still in the squad.
Raheem Sterling has been named in the squad after testing negative for Covid-19 having attended Usain Bolt's recent birthday party in Jamaica. The Olympic legend is now self-isolating having tested positive for the virus.
There is also no James Maddison while John Stones, who has become a bit-part player at Manchester City, has also been omitted.
Danny Ings has earned a recall, as has Eric Dier after winning his place back at Tottenham under Jose Mourinho.
Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ross Barkley, Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw are all absent due to injuries.