Jack Wilshere told he needs to be playing 'regular league football' before he can be considered again
Thursday 2 November 2017 15:28, UK
England manager Gareth Southgate admitted he had opted to be "brave" in picking uncapped trio Tammy Abraham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Joe Gomez for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil.
The trio have performed well at U21 level and, with qualification confirmed for next year's World Cup in Russia, Southgate has chosen to give youth a chance in the back-to-back Wembley internationals.
"We've called three or four young players up. We think they're all talented al players and all players who we've monitored right the way through our system," he said.
"We know a lot about them and we feel now is a really good chance for us to have a look at them.
If I am asking club managers to be brave and pick young players, then I think I have got to do the same.
"We talked after the last games about how we needed to qualify, we kept a squad together to do that.
"One of the keys was how to we evolve the team and move forward with performances between now and the summer and we want a bit of experimentation within that.
"These are two brilliant games to have because if they can go in and perform at this level, we will know a lot more about them and I am excited to have a look at them.
"We know them well, we know what they are capable of and as we saw with Harry Winks in the game with Lithuania, it is a reminder to me that until we give them that opportunity, we don't know what they might do.
"If I am asking club managers to be brave and pick young players, then I think I have got to do the same."
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere had been backed by his club boss Arsene Wenger to earn a place back in the England set-up after returning from injury.
But with Wilshere having played barely 15 minutes of Premier League football this season, Southgate feels he needs more game time before he can earn an international recall.
"I don't know how you can get in an England squad without getting in an Arsenal team," Southgate added.
"There is no question in our mind about Jack Wilshere's ability and football brain and personality, we just need to see him playing regular league football before we think it is right to put him back in.
"I did have a conversation with Arsene about him on Saturday because he is a top player so for him it is just game-time."
One player who has earned an England recall is Manchester United's Ashley Young, more than four years after he last played for his country.
"His performances warrant it. We want to play with wing-backs - I think it's a role he can perform, left or right, very well," said Southgate. "He's played very well for Manchester United.
"Generally speaking we want to look at younger players, and develop the team, but I've always said if a more senior player is playing well and warrants the call-up, we should include them."
England play Germany at Wembley on November 10 before taking on Brazil at the same venue four days later.
