Ollie Watkins receives first England call up

Ollie Watkins and West Brom goalkeeper, Sam Stone have received their first international call up by Gareth Southgate ahead of next month's month's World Cup qualification triple header against San Marino, Albania and Poland.

Congratulations to Ollie Watkins, who has received his first senior @England call-up! ????????????????????????????

Ollie is joined in Gareth Southgate's squad by @OfficialTM_3. ????

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 18, 2021

Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham has been called up despite concerns over his availability, and Southgate admitting he's unlikely to even play due to COVID-19 quarantine regulations.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is absent from a squad that sees Luke Shaw, John Stones and Jesse Lingard return after long absences as Dortmund team-mate Jadon Sancho misses out through injury, while Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Tammy Abraham are not included having been dealing with issues of their own.

And Southgate has admitted Lingard was 'perhaps fortunate' to be included due to the number of injuries to players in the midfield positions.

Here it is… your first #ThreeLions squad of the year! ????

— England (@England) March 18, 2021

ENGLAND SQUAD IN FULL:

Goalkeepers: Henderson, Johnstone, Pope

Defenders: Chilwell, Coady, Dier, James, Maguire, Mings, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker
Midfielders: Bellingham, Foden, Lingard, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse

Forwards: Calvert-Lewin, Kane, Rashford, Saka, Sterling, Watkins