Chelsea star Conor Gallagher leads England Under-21s squad after being snubbed by Gareth Southgate for Nations League
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CONOR GALLAGHER is back with the England Under-21s following his seniors' omission.
The Chelsea starlet, 22, was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Italy and Germany.
Four-capped midfielder Gallagher will now turn out for Lee Carsley’s Young Lions, who face friendlies against the same opposition over the next ten days.
Manchester City defender Luke Mbete, 18, has also received a maiden call-up.
Boss Carsley said: “We welcome Conor Gallagher back to the group which is another example of us having a fluid pathway across our national teams.
“I know Conor will take to the pitch with as much pride in wearing an England shirt for the Under-21s as he would for the seniors.
“He – like all of our players - can continue to take comfort in the fact that Gareth will always keep one eye on their progress; there is no glass ceiling.”
Tottenham pair Oliver Skipp and Ryan Sessegnon, as well as Sheffield United striker Rhian Brewster, are also back in the 25-man squad, having missed out in recent months due to injury.
Skipp is yet to feature for Tottenham since January due to injury problems but will hope to get game time for the Under-21s as he speeds up his recovery.
Carsley added: “I’m conscious that some of these players have played a lot this season while, at the opposite end of the scale, there are others who need match minutes.”
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Mbete is one of six City players in the squad, albeit he is one of five from the Premier League champions who are currently out on loan having been farmed out to Huddersfield.
On the teenager, Carsley said: “Luke is a player who has been in our system for a while.
“He’s headed out to Huddersfield this season for his first loan move and he’s a player who we see as having high potential within the England set-up.”
Full England Under-21 squad:
GKs: Josef Bursik (Stoke), Josh Griffiths (Portsmouth, on loan from West Brom), James Trafford (Bolton, on loan from Man City).
DFs: Max Aarons (Norwich), Levi Colwill (Brighton, on loan from Chelsea), Charlie Cresswell (Millwall, on loan from Leeds), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Burnley, on loan from Man City), Luke Mbete (Huddersfield, on loan from Man City), Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham), Djed Spence (Tottenham), Luke Thomas (Leicester).
MDs: Tommy Doyle (Sheffield United, on loan from Man City), Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), James Garner (Everton), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), James McAtee (Sheffield United, on loan from Man City), Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa), Oliver Skipp (Tottenham).
FDs: Folarin Balogun (Stade de Reims, on loan from Arsenal), Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United), Angel Gomes (Lille), Anthony Gordon (Everton), Keane Lewis-Potter (Brentford), Cole Palmer (Man City).