England Squad Update: Southgate Set to Surprise with Two New Call-ups for Belgium Match
Gareth Southgate has made some unexpected additions to the England first-team squad ahead of their friendly against Belgium. The national team manager has called up Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford and Manchester City star Rico Lewis for the upcoming match. This decision comes as a surprise, especially considering that Trafford was dropped by Burnley boss Vincent Kompany in their recent victory over Brentford.
Trafford, who has started almost every Premier League game for Burnley this season, will be replacing Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone, who had to leave the squad due to an elbow injury. Although Johnstone’s injury is not serious, he has returned to his club for the remainder of the international break. Trafford joins the list of players who have left the camp due to injury, including Harry Maguire and Kyle Walker.
On the other hand, Lewis, a versatile player who can play as a full-back or midfielder, has been chosen to replace Walker. The 19-year-old has started only one game in 2024, a 3-1 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League last 16. Despite his limited game time, Lewis has been called up by Southgate, who handed him his debut in November. Lewis has started just five Premier League games this season, two of which ended in defeats against Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Although Trafford is not expected to play against Belgium, with Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale ahead of him in the pecking order, this experience will undoubtedly be valuable for the young goalkeeper. He is yet to make his England debut but has already made 17 appearances for the U21 side. Prior to being dropped for the Brentford match, Trafford had played every minute of Burnley’s Premier League campaign.
Kompany downplayed the significance of his decision to drop Trafford, stating that he has the luxury of having two good goalkeepers and can make decisions based on what is best for the team. He emphasized the importance of having depth in multiple positions and expressed his confidence in both players.
Meanwhile, England will be looking to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Brazil in their previous match. Belgium has emerged victorious in three out of the last four meetings between the two nations, including two wins in the 2018 World Cup group stage and third-place play-off. Southgate will be hoping for a better outcome this time around.
In conclusion, Gareth Southgate’s surprise call-ups of James Trafford and Rico Lewis to the England squad for the Belgium match have raised eyebrows. While Trafford is not expected to play, this opportunity will provide valuable experience for him. Lewis, on the other hand, has had limited game time but has been given the chance to impress once again. England will be looking to put their recent defeat behind them as they face a tough challenge against Belgium.