Whether Antonio makes his global debut for England when they open their World Cup qualification campaign in Trnava remains to be seen, but one player who definitely will not feature is axed Everton midfielder Ross Barkley.
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Rooney finished last season playing as a central midfielder for United under Louis van Gaal, and played there for England during its European Championship campaign that ended with an embarrassing last-16 loss to Iceland.
Another player who failed to make the squad was Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, who came on to score an injury-time victor against Hull at the weekend, and Allardyce said competitive action in the England U21s would be more valuable for the 18-year-old.
The 30-year-old – who was criticised over his performances when he skippered England at the Euro 2016 finals – should lead out England for the first time under Allardyce in Sunday’s match against Slovakia.
However, there were recalls for Danny Drinkwater, a midfielder with English champions Leicester City, defenders Phil Jagielka (Everton) and Luke Shaw (Manchester United), as well as Arsenal’s Theo Walcott after they all failed to make it into former England manager Roy Hodgson’s squad in France.
“It’s the hardest squad I’ve ever picked because it’s England”, he said. “I was a bit surprised when Reading let him go – and I thought they could have got more money for him”.
Everton’s Ross Barkley missed out as uncapped West Ham winger Michail Antonio got his first call.
“I think that that journey is something that deserves to be in this squad and me to have a look at as a potential player going forward”.
“I say to everybody publicly that those who are disappointed to be left out, the door will always be open and we will always be watching”. “Do you pick the best squad to win the World Cup, and if one or two of those are like N’Zonzi, do you do it?”
Antonio was playing in the Isthmian League in 2008-09 before slowly working his way up divisions and signing with West Ham from Nottingham Forest a year ago.
There is however no room for Jermaine Defoe, with the Sunderland striker left out in favour of three strikers, namely Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and Harry Kane. Shall we say attacking-midfielder? Despite sometimes being deployed at right-back he ended last season having scored nine goals for West Ham, eight with his head. “He knows that and he understands that and his time will come and he will get his chance for Manchester United and England”.
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“Having global experience in the under-21s will prove invaluable for us further down the line”, the former West Ham, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland manager added.
