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Sterling misses out again as England recall Watkins, Bowen

Gareth Southgate named a 26-man squad on Thursday for this month’s friendly against Australia and a Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy, both of which take place at Wembley.

Watkins replaces Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson after a fine start to the season with Aston Villa — netting seven times in 11 games including a hat trick against Brighton last weekend — while Bowen has five goals in seven matches for West Ham United and takes up a spot vacated by injured Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze.

Southgate had spoken to Sterling prior to last month’s games against Ukraine and Scotland to explain, saying the Chelsea winger was disappointed to have been overlooked.

There were no conversations this time with Southgate opting for Bowen instead.

“We spoke before the last squad,” Southgate told a news conference when asked about Sterling. “We’ve been happy with the wide players and the performances in the last four games in particular, and the two in March.

“The team are playing really well so clearly there is some stability there. We have added Jarrod Bowen in those wide areas. He’s playing really well and with the Australia game there is an opportunity to learn some different things as well.”

Southgate revealed that Wilson’s call-up was placed in doubt by questions over his fitness, influencing his decision to select Watkins, who has scored two England goals in seven appearances, the last of which came against Cote d’Ivoire in March 2022.

“Callum is carrying an injury, we’re not certain he’d be available,” Southgate said. “Ollie has started the season well, he has hit a bit of scoring form in the last couple of weeks.

“You have to be careful with that, you can’t just go on recency bias when you are looking at selection but he is in good form.

“He is coming in on a high. We know his character, we know his personality. He’s a good guy around the group. He’s playing for a team that is really well coached and the team are in a good moment.”

Bukayo Saka has also been included despite suffering a muscular injury in Arsenal’s Champions League defeat at Lens on Tuesday.

Arsenal are awaiting results of various tests before determining his availability for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City.

“He is still being assessed,” said Southgate of Saka. “Obviously they’ve got a big game this weekend and then there’s another seven days before we play Australia and 10 days before we play Italy so everybody will monitor everything as we go forward.”

City defender John Stones has also been recalled following a thigh problem.

Southgate also voiced his disapproval of VAR, citing the 2019 Nations League semifinal when Jesse Lingard had a goal ruled out on review for offside — a moment which would have put England 2-1 up against Netherlands with less than 10 minutes to play. They lost the game in extra-time.

It was the first time VAR had been used in a national team competition run by UEFA.

“You say I was at the forefront of it, I wasn’t for it,” Southgate added. “My first experience of it, I’m still not sure if the Jesse Lingard goal that knocked us out of the semi-final was legit or not.

“I don’t like it. I think we should just accept referees’ decisions but I also know we are unlikely to go back to a world where we don’t have technology as part of that decision-making process.

“It was never going to resolve every issue. I don’t think there is any solution that will achieve that.”

England squad:

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur), Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

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Could Man Utd Get Sucked Into Premier League Relegation Fight?

Ruben Amorim increasingly has the look of a man with regrets. Since taking over as Manchester United manager, the Portuguese has won just four out of 10 fixtures in all competitions with Thursday’s 2-0 defeat to Wolves the latest disappointing result to highlight the trouble being experienced by the Old Trafford outfit.

United deserved to lose at Molineux. Bruno Fernandes’ mindless red card reduced his team to 10 men with Wolves able to make the most of its advantage through goals from Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan. This was Manchester United’s third straight defeat after losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth.

When Amorim arrived at Old Trafford, there was a chance that Manchester United could have mounted a late challenge for a Champions League qualification place. Now, United is slumped in 14th place in the Premier League table, 11 points off the top four. The Red Devils are closer to the bottom three.

In fact, the way Manchester United is playing right now, it’s not impossible that it could get sucked into the relegation fight at the foot of the table. Amorim and his players will face Newcastle United and table-toppers Liverpool before the end of the festive stretch of fixtures, meaning even darker days could come in the near future.

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“The little things stuck with me” – Super Eagles star credits his Father for Christmas charity act

Super Eagles and Fulham attacking midfielder, Alex Chuka Iwobi, has revealed his Father played a huge role in his Christmas charity event a few days ago, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 28-year-old opened a shop in East London under the name “AlexPress“, and stuffed it with food and groceries to give back to the people of the community where he grew up.

Iwobi revealed his Father played a huge role in the act, as he made sure kindness was instilled into the family by showing examples even in the little things.

“Even now, my dad, for example, if we’re going to the shop to get a one-pound drink, he’d give the guy in charge five pounds and tell him to keep the rest. When the bin men came, he’d make sure he was awake when they came around just so he could give them extra bottles of water. Little things like that stuck with me.

My mum and dad do that, and even my sisters do the same. We just like to help other people, especially family. Seeing my parents do that, and being in a position like I am, it’s only right that I give back to the community.

“I was able to create AlexPress, a little mini-mart. The shop is like a road away from the primary school I went to, so we were able to hire that for the day and basically invite as many people to collect Christmas food for their families.

So many people were able to leave with a smile on their faces and it makes it easier for them to enjoy Christmas because I know the cost of living is not easy, so I try to help in any way I can,” the former Everton man told Fulham’s official website.

Away from Iwobi, another Super Eagles star, Victor Osimhen, also gave food items and tricycles to locals of Olusosun, in Lagos, Nigeria – the town where he went from being a boy to being a man.

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Napoli’s Osimhen and Leverkusen’s Boniface Light Up Lagos With ‘Detty’ December Celebration

Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface recently brought the festive season to life in Lagos with an unforgettable December celebration, Soccernet.ng reports.

The two Super Eagles stars joined in the city’s vibrant “detty” December festivities, dancing and relaxing at a club with their peers.

In a video shared on social media, Osimhen, currently in top form with Galatasaray in Turkey, can be seen dancing to a song played in the club, while injured Boniface enjoys a drink from his cup.

Boniface and Osimhen’s Bond
Both players are key figures in the Super Eagles squad. Boniface, seen as the potential replacement for Osimhen when the talisman is injured or on the bench, shares a close bond with his teammate.

After winning the Bundesliga title with Leverkusen last season, Boniface recalled how Osimhen predicted his rise in the German league.

“Shout out to [Victor] Osimhen because I remember when they [Napoli] won the league. He told me next year will be your turn and it’s happening now. Senior man respect,” Boniface told Soccernet.ng.

Even on Boniface’s 24th birthday, Osimhen took to social media to celebrate his teammate:

“Birthday blessings starboy! Only love and well wishes over here man. See you soon!”

Off the pitch, Boniface values his relationship with Osimhen and recently named the Napoli forward as the most valuable contact on his phone. The former Union SG player has also praised Osimhen for his impressive performances at club level.

Osimhen and Boniface: Big in the Transfer Market
The two Super Eagles stars have attracted the attention of top European clubs looking to strengthen their squads.

Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Arsenal, have previously been linked with both players, and one of them may soon make a move to England.