Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been named in England’s 30-man squad for the upcoming games against Wales, Belgium and Denmark.
The 27-year-old was initially called up for the Nations League games last month, despite an ongoing court hearing on the Greek island of Syros.
Southgate backed Maguire when announcing his squad in August but was forced to drop the 27-year-old later the same day after he was found guilty of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and bribery following an alleged incident on Mykonos.
Here is your #ThreeLions squad for this month’s triple-header! 👀 — England (@England) October 1, 2020
Maguire, who strenuously denies the offences, has appealed against the verdict and subsequent 21-month suspended prison sentence and has since played in United’s two opening Premier League games, as well as the Carabao Cup win at Luton.
While Maguire was included, his Manchester United team-mate Mason Greenwood and Manchester City’s Phil Foden were both missing.
The pair made their senior England debuts last month in Iceland before being fined by local police and sent home for breaching Covid-19 regulations.
Southgate said at the time that “trust needs to be rebuilt” with Greenwood and Foden, who are absent from the squad announced on Thursday.
There were first call-ups for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leicester’s Harvey Barnes and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal.
Calvert-Lewin has scored eight goals in the opening five games of the season, including hat-tricks against West Brom in the Premier League and West Ham in the Carabao Cup.
Southgate said at a press conference: “I think with pretty much all of the squad we have not just looked at what they did last season but an emphasis on the beginning of this season as well.
Honoured and grateful to get my first @england call up ! #Blessings 💫 pic.twitter.com/YD3kx68y5L — Bukayo Saka (@BukayoSaka87) October 1, 2020
“Dominic is a player we’ve liked for a long time. What he has added over the last 18 months are goals. Of course for a striker they are critical. He is in a really rich vein of form.
“His all-round game in terms of what he gives to the team, his hold-up play, his ability to press the opposition – he is a pest to play against for defenders.
“That adds a lot to the team and he has clearly been a big part of why Everton have started the season so well. He thoroughly deserves his opportunity.”
Calvert-Lewin added on Everton’s website: “I’m a very, very proud man to get this first England call.
“I just phoned my mum and my dad, and my mum burst into tears. It’s something we’ve spoken about since I was a young boy. To get here now and get the call-up is a dream come true. I’m very happy.
“I found out with a text message [from the FA]. Pickers (Jordan Pickford) and Keano (Michael Keane) were obviously named in the squad and they were saying, ‘Have you got the text yet?’.
“I went to my phone and saw the text message… I didn’t really know how to feel, if I’m being honest. I’ve thought about this moment so many times.”
Welcome to the #ThreeLions, lads! 👊 pic.twitter.com/DKMjUnY54T — England (@England) October 1, 2020
Southgate added that Foden and Greenwood would be back in contention come his next squad.
He said: “We have to send a message to all our players in our teams at every age level that that sort of thing isn’t how we do things with England.
“Then we’ve got to rehabilitate these two boys. Young people will make mistakes. These lads have suffered enough now.
“I think they need this period of reflection but that gives them the opportunity to get back on their feet with their clubs, enjoy their football again.
“I can speak to them after this camp and it will be just be about their form then.”
