Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze named in England squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers

Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate recalls Lewis Dunk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Callum Wilson for games against Malta and North Macedonia

Eberechi Eze has scored 10 goals for Crystal Palace in this season's Premier League. Reuters

Uncapped Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze has been called up for England's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.

Brighton centre-half Lewis Dunk returns for the first time since making his debut against the United States in November 2018, while Sam Johnstone, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyrone Mings and Callum Wilson have all been recalled by manager Gareth Southgate.

Southgate has named a 25-man squad, with Raheem Sterling the highest-profile absentee with the England manager revealing that the Chelsea attacker has been struggling with a hamstring problem and is unhappy with his current fitness levels.

Other players gone from the squad that helped kick-off England's qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win in Italy and 2-0 home victory over Ukraine are Nick Pope, Ben Chilwell, Eric Dier, Reece James, Mason Mount and Ivan Toney.

Eze has been in superb form for Palace since the arrival of former England manager Roy Hodgson in March and has scored six goals in his last eight games as the Eagles comfortably secured their top-flight status.

“We've liked him for a long time,” Southgate of the 24-year-old who has scored 10 goals in 37 Premier League games this season. “He was very unfortunate just before the Euros. We were going to call him into a prep camp and he got an injury.

“He has finished the season very strongly, he can play in a couple of positions across that front line. He has high quality and bursts of speed to go past players with those dribbling skills.”

Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, has been playing in a more advanced position for Liverpool of late and Southgate has been impressed by his efforts.

“He is a super footballer,” Southgate added. “He is obviously playing in a slightly different role which has invigorated him in the last few months.

“He has always been in advanced areas of the pitch with the ball. He is just a bit more central now. That's interesting for us – no question. It's something I've talked to him about and we're looking forward to working with Trent.”

Sterling, who has won 82 caps, has endured a difficult first season since joining Chelsea from Manchester City with the London club having sacked two managers – in Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter – before appointing Frank Lampard until the end of the campaign.

A representative for the forward said: “Following a private conversation between coach and player, a mutual decision has been made for Raheem Sterling to sit out the upcoming internationals, focusing instead on recuperating his body in preparation for the upcoming season.”

England 2 Ukraine 0: Player ratings

ENGLAND RATINGS: Jordan Pickford 5 – The Everton stopper had little to do, but acted as a sweeper to help switch the play with England in possession. Kept the 25th clean sheet of his England career. Getty

Kyle Walker 6 – Staying deep as part of a back three, he had a very quiet but steady game. His pace was put to the test by Chelsea winger Mudryk. AP

John Stones 7 – Looked solid throughout and read the game well. In one instance, though, he was guilty of stopping and appealing for an offside flag. While it was eventually raised, he may need to play to the whistle in future. Ccould have been costly. AP

Harry Maguire 7 – Did his job well, and his diagonal passes got England moving forward. Had two free headers late on; the first was almost converted by Gallagher, the second finished inches over the post. AP

Ben Chilwell 6 – Did well to overlap when possible and, on one occasion, supplied a good cross that Saka couldn’t quite convert. Reuters

Declan Rice 5 – Found it difficult to get into the game and had few opportunities to get on the ball. Made a few interceptions, but was largely anonymous. AFP

Jordan Henderson 6 - Back in the starting line-up, his first major contribution was a cross to Kane that the Spurs striker should have converted. Quiet game. Reuters

Jude Bellingham 7 – Looked leggy early on, but grew into the match. Was given very little time and space on the ball but carried the ball forward when he could. Was applauded early in the second half for some fancy footwork and a cheeky nutmeg. PA

Bukayo Saka 8 – The Arsenal striker was a constant menace. First, he provided an inch-perfect cross for Kane to score, and then he scored himself with a delicious curled effort from 25 yards. That’s now four goals in six games. AP

Harry Kane 8 - Fresh from breaking England’s goalscoring record on Thursday, Kane made it 55 goals – his 22nd at Wembley – when he started and finished a move involving an inch-perfect cross from Saka. Earlier, he came close twice, first when he mis-hit from a Henderson cross, and then when he guided a Maddison ball over the bar. AFP

James Maddison 6 - Making his first start aged 26, the Leicester man was starved of space but provided one cross that Kane almost converted. In the second half, he created a shooting opportunity with a neat turn, but his effort went over the bar. AFP

SUBS: Ivan Toney (Kane, 81) N/A – The Brentford man won a header with his first touch, but had few opportunities to showcase his strengths. EPA

Jack Grealish (Maddison, 85) N/A – Linked well with Gallagher immediately to create a goalscoring opportunity for the Chelsea man. Gallagher then repaid the favour, and Grealish came close with an effort at the death that was well saved by Trubin. EPA

Conor Gallagher (Bellingham, 86) N/A – His first major touch was a shot at goal that Trubin pushed around his post for a corner. PA

UKRAINE RATINGS: Anatoliy Trubin 6 – Had a tough first half. Could do little about either goal, and got a knock from Maddison for his troubles. Looked a little bit shaky with the ball at his feet in his own box. Made a couple of good saves in the second half, particularly late on. Reuters

Oleksandr Karavaev 5 – Poor defending enabled Kane to put England ahead. In his defence, the Dynamo Kyiv man was being played out of position, and received little support from those around him. Reuters

Mykola Matviyenko 6 – Seemed to have the better of his opponents in the opening exchanges but was then turned inside out by Saka for England’s second goal. Looked very comfortable in possession. AFP

Oleksandr Svatok 6 – Making his debut, he looked tense early on but then grew confident with every touch. Overall, a solid first outing, though he can consider himself lucky not to have been carded having made four or five fouls. AFP

Vitalii Mykolenko 5 – Was left isolated on the left hand side and struggled to deal with Saka as a consequence. Later substituted. Getty

Ruslan Malinovskyi 6 – Recovered well from a head injury early on and had one of few shots on goal for the visitors. Unfortunately, he found Mudryk in his way. Solid performance. PA

Taras Stepanenko 6 – Overall, he did well to limit England’s central trio throughout. Getty

Oleksandr Zinchenko 6 – Played deep in an effort to link defence and midfield, but England’s press meant he had very little room to maneuvre. Was guilty of leaving Mykolenko isolated on several occasions. AFP

Heorhiy Sudakov 6 – The 20-year-old forward showed some nice touches and the ability to find pockets of space. That said, he offered very little threat. EPA

Roman Yaremchuk 4 – Has been out of form while at Brugge, and he fared little better here. Lead the line, but had very little to feed on. Getty

Mykhailo Mudryk 5 – The Chelsea forward displayed some nice touches and had an effort from distance that finished wide of Pickford’s goal. His pace gave Walker a good run for his money, but overall he was poor. Let Saka come back on to his left foot for the opening goal. EPA

SUBS: Vitaliy Buyalskyi (Karavaev, 61) 5 – Played behind Yaremchuk as a second centre forward as Ukraine moved to more of a 4-4-2 formation. Getty

Viktor Tsygankov (Mudryk, 61) 7 – Looked lively when he came on, and proved to his manager that maybe he should have started. AFP

Eduard Sobol (Mykolenko, 61) 5 – A like-for-like replacement on the left, but like his predecessor found opportunities limited. AFP

Artem Dovbyk (Yaremchuk, 74) N/A – Few opportunities on the ball. Yevhen Konoplyanka (Stepanenko, 90) N/A. AFP

Southgate revealed Sterling’s absence was largely down to fitness issues rather than form. “I spoke with him a week or so ago – a general catch-up,” he said.

“He’s not happy physically with his condition, having been carrying a hamstring problem. He really wasn’t in consideration.

“We didn’t get to the point of whether he should be in or out. He doesn’t think he is operating at the level he needs.”

Brentford striker Tony – who made his England debit against Ukraine – misses out after being banned for eight months after breaching the Football Association's betting regulations.

“I have spoken with him. I don't know if that is allowed, by the way, but if it isn't they can ban me and not add to his,” said Southgate. “The ban is the ban. It is what it is. He recognised and accepted the punishment.

“What bothers me is we have to look after people. I don't like the idea we just leave somebody, that they are not allowed to be part of the football community.

“That is not how we should work. I don't think that's how the best rehabilitation programmes would work.

“When he comes back, if he plays well, we'll pick him. It won't have any bearing.

“I think he'll have additional motivation through what he is experiencing. He is a resilient guy with great character. We're here to support him.”