“We’ve got on well together, but when you’re having a conversation with an worldwide manager, we all know the difficulties of the past”.
Advertisement
Manchester United’s Luke Shaw, Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater, Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, and Everton captain Phil Jagielka join the West Ham man in the squad after missing the Euros.
The application was one of 700 submitted for the job, which became available after Roy Hodgson resigned following England’s defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016.
Antonio’s good form has surely been the encouragement for call-up and his goal today proves that the 26-year-old is certainly full of potential.
Wilshere, whose selection for the Euro 2016 squad came despite making just three appearances for Arsenal last season, misses out on the Slovakia fixture after playing just 37 minutes for Arsene Wenger’s team so far this term.
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart retains his place in the squad alongside fellow keepers Fraser Forster and Tom Heaton.
The England manager wasted no time in putting his mark on his plans by overlooking Barkley and Wilshere for the World Cup qualifier with Slovakia along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Of those who went to France in the summer, Marcus Rashford is left out – he was called up to the England U21 squad earlier in the week – while injured duo Ryan Bertrand and Jack Wilshere and Everton midfielder Ross Barkley are omitted and James Milner has retired from global football.
Manchester United’s Luke Shaw earns a call-up, his first since missing nearly the entire 2015-16 Premier League through injury. “We will continue to watch them whenever they play, whether it is at games or on video, and we will keep an eye on everybody”.
“Last year his impact on West Ham was only overshadowed by (Dimitri) Payet”.
West Ham United winger Michail Antonio has admitted that he was “overwhelmed” when he found out he would be part of Sam Allardyce’s first England squad. I didn’t think that it would happen this quick, but I always said to myself that if I could get into the Premier League and keep playing the way I do, hopefully I could get into the England squad. Barkley was one of just two players who failed to get on the pitch during England’s short-lived worldwide tournament appearance but has had a very good start to the season under new Toffees boss Ronald Koeman.
Advertisement
Antonio added: I turned down an approach from Jamaica in March and for this to happen so quickly, I’m buzzing!
