Soccer
'Copy and paste!' - England interim boss Lee Carsley keen to leave own stamp as Dominic Solanke and key trio recalled
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England interim boss Lee Carsley admits he does not want his squads to feel like a "copy and paste" job after unveiling his latest selections for the October international break.
Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke is in line to add to his lone England cap after he was recalled to the national team seven years on from his 2017 debut for the Three Lions.
The influential trio of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer also return, but there was no room for Harry Maguire, Eberechi Eze, Tino Livramento and Jarrod Bowen.
Speaking on his selections, ex-Young Lions coach Carsley was insistent his omissions were not out of favour, but stressed he will also not pick names for the sake of them.
"In the back of my mind, I wanted to make sure it feels fresh," he said. "[I want it so that it] feels that when you get that email or WhatsApp [to say] that you've been called up, that it's an achievement
"It shouldn't be something that is taken for granted I thought it was important that it is not just a copy and paste. I want them to feel like they have earned their place in the squad."
The return of Bellingham, Foden and Palmer leave Carsley with his biggest headache yet as England boss, as he considers how best to fit them into his plans.
The former pair were La Liga and Premier League Player of the Year last term, while Palmer - a key figure for the Young Lions - has enjoyed a sensational start to the year.
"You’d try and find a way of getting them into the team,” Carsley admitted. “We’ve got to be creative. If they are all playing well and they all earn that place in the team, [then yes]."
Maguire was omitted despite a recall in September, having missed Euro 2024 through injury, with the defender carrying a knock over the past few weeks too.
He came off the bench in Manchester United's 3-3 draw against Porto in the UEFA Europa League with a late header to salvage a point for Erik ten Hag's men.
Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images
There had been speculation that the centre-back, a stalwart of the Gareth Southgate era, would lose his place under any successor, but Carsley insists he remains in his plans.
"Harry’s a player I’ve worked with in the past," he added. "He was very positive in the conversation we had.
"We have some really good centre-backs that I’m keen to see play. Harry’s still got a really important part to play in this squad and campaign.”
England play their UEFA Nations League fixtures this month against Greece on Thursday, October 10 at Wembley Stadium, before a trip to face Finland on Sunday, October 13.
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