LONDON (AP) – Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, a member of the England national team on Monday for the first time before the UEFA League of Nations matches against Iceland and Denmark.
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford and Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks have retired from the team, the Football Association said.
This is midfielder Grealish’s first call to the national team. In the past he represented England at U-21 and was a member of England coach Gareth Southgate’s winning team at the Toulon tournament in 2016.
The variety follows an impressive Premier League crusade in which 24-year-old Grealish played a central role in keeping Villa in first place.
Rashford withdrew due to an ankle injury, while Winks was also forced to return to his club.
England will face Iceland in Reykjavik on Saturday travelling to Copenhagen to face Denmark 3 days later.
The Southgate team has not been in action so this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which led to the postponement of the Euro until 2021.