Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon have been included in the senior England squad for March's friendlies with Brazil and Belgium.
The duo have earned their maiden first-team call-ups thanks to stellar seasons in the Premier League, with Branthwaite - an Under-21 European champion last year - making 25 starts for the Toffees and scoring two goals.
Meanwhile, Gordon - who was also part of Lee Carsley's continental champions in 2023 - has contributed to 15 top-flight goals from 27 outings for the Magpies, scoring nine of his own and registering six assists to warrant a senior selection.
Gordon joins a nine-strong attacking contingent which also includes Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who is immediately recalled for the first time since March 2023 following his nine-month betting suspension.
Manchester City's Jack Grealish makes way for Gordon due to his groin problem, while Cole Palmer - who was promoted to the first team from the Under-21s in November - earns his first official senior call-up thanks to his continued exceptional form at Chelsea.
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James Maddison and Jarrod Bowen are also back following their recoveries from injuries, but Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze has not been called up, and nor has Manchester City's under-performing West Ham United loanee Kalvin Phillips.
After repeatedly struggling for minutes at the Etihad, Phillips has made a below-par start to life at the London Stadium, and Gareth Southgate told reporters at his press conference that the 28-year-old's form had simply not been good enough.
"I think he knows exactly what we think of him, a good version of him is an important player for us. We don't have many players of that profile," Southgate told reporters.
"Unfortunately, his form just hasn't been good enough. I've spoken to him, he knows that. I said to him towards the end of last year, if he didn't play at City, it was going to be a problem."
While Phillips has been cut from the ranks for the first time since September 2022, when he was nursing a shoulder injury, Jordan Henderson - who left Al-Ettifaq for Ajax in January - retains his place.
Here we go then.
— England (@England) March 14, 2024
Your #ThreeLions for March camp! 🦁
Despite Kobbie Mainoo's emergence with Manchester United, the 18-year-old is snubbed by Southgate and is instead expected to be named in Carsley's Under-21 squad, while the rejuvenated Ross Barkley is also omitted despite his eye-catching feats with Luton Town.
In defence, Arsenal right-back Ben White - who has just signed a new long-term deal with the Gunners - has once again been left out and is yet to make a Three Lions squad since departing the 2022 World Cup for personal reasons.
Southgate revealed in his press conference that he had received a call from Arsenal's sporting director Edu saying that White did not want to be considered for selection, and the England boss also denied reports of a bust-up with Steve Holland in Qatar.
Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell - both of whom are currently nursing injuries - are included, as is Liverpool's versatile defender Joe Gomez, who was last called up to an England squad in October 2020.
Arsenal's number two Aaron Ramsdale also retains his place in the goalkeeping department over Rangers' Jack Butland, who is still believed to be in Southgate's thinking for Euro 2024 as Ramsdale struggles for game time at the Emirates.
England host Brazil at Wembley on March 23, three days before welcoming Belgium - who will be without Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne - to the capital.
ENGLAND SQUAD IN FULL
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur), Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Ben Knapton
