Chelsea duo of Mason Mount and Ross Barkley have been included in Gareth Southgate’s 23 men England squad for the European Championship qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo.
Mason Mount has started the season impressively scoring two goals in three league appearances for Chelsea, Gareth Southgate said after announcing the squad: ‘I think Mason Mount has been one of the outstanding players in the league this season. We bought him into the squad last October, as much for the experience as anything. This time he is in on merit, as simple as that.
‘He looks like threatening the goal every game he plays. I have watched him develop through England’s youth teams since 16 and he has been an outstanding player at every age group. He is not in off the back of three games at Chelsea, he is in off the back of a year in the Eredivisie which was outstanding and a very successful year with Derby, and being a European Under-19 champion with us, so he keeps improving and achieving at every level he is tested at and that has been the same at the beginning of this season.’
Mount will look to cement his place in the England squad by impressing Gareth Southgate in the games against Bulgaria and Kosovo,
Ross Barkley’s inclusion in the squad was a surprise after having an average start to the season,
The midfielder has started one league game so far this season but Dele Alli’s injury has given Ross Barkley another chance to impress Gareth Southgate, the 29 caps England international has been impressive for England since being brought back in the squad after being left out for the world cup.
