Trent Alexander-Arnold dealt fresh England snub with World Cup place in serious doubt

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of England’s matchday squad for tonight’s clash against Germany in the last fixture ahead of the World Cup.

Gareth Southgate has to name a 23-man squad for Uefa Nations League ties and Alexander-Arnold, along with Fikayo Tomori, Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse are set to miss out. Jack Grealish is suspended after picking up a yellow card against Italy in the defeat at San Siro on Friday.

Alexander-Arnold missed out on the European Championships last year through injury after being named in the squad and his omission for this clash at Wembley means he will not have played a minute in the final two games before the squad is named.

Tomori is in the same position, despite playing regularly for AC Milan and winning the Serie A title last season.

Southgate confirmed on the eve of the match that his squad were fully fit and this match was a case of using a system he feels will be effective at the World Cup, which is less than two months away. “Everybody with us is fit, so no issues,” he said.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney is in the squad and could make his debut and Southgate suggested his inclusion is long-term, even if he does not make the squad for the tournament.

“Of course everybody wants to get into the team and onto the pitch but you have a better chance of doing that if you have been in the group longer and used to how we play and feel more comfortable with the players,” he said.

“Whatever happens, this has been a useful exercise for him and for us. I remember I was in the stands for my first two international camps. They were a little bit shorter but that was the way Terry Venables embedded me into the group. Sometimes we have done it that way and sometimes we haven’t.”