Wilshere recalled, Cahill dropped for England friendlies

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere was recalled to the England squad for the first time in nearly two years while manager Gareth Southgate called up three new faces for friendlies with the Netherlands and Italy.Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope and central defender James Tarkowski were both called up to the squad for the first time.The pair only broke into Sean Dyche’s side on a regular basis this season but have been instrumental in the Lancashire club’s rise to seventh place.Swansea defender Alfie Mawson was also given his maiden call-up while uncapped Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook, who was included in the squad for November’s friendly with Brazil but did not play, was included again.Goalkeeper Joe Hart remains in the squad despite a difficult season for West Ham United where he has been left out of the side for several games.Another possibly surprising inclusion was Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck who has not been a regular starter for Arsene Wenger’s side this season.But there was no place for Chelsea defender Gary Cahill who has recently been left out of his club side. Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is missing for the two games due to an ankle injury.Southgate’s side will play the Netherlands on March 23 in Amsterdam before hosting Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27. Southgate says he and his team are not being distracted from their preparations for the World Cup in Russia by the tensions between London and Moscow.On Wednesday, the British government said it would kick out 23 Russian diplomats, the biggest such expulsion since the Cold War, over a chemical attack on a former Russian double agent in England that Prime Minister Theresa May blamed on Moscow.May said no British ministers or members of the British royal family would attend the World Cup, which Russia is hosting in June and July. Some politicians have called for a full boycott of the event, but Southgate said he was concentrating on his job.“As far as all my briefings and information is, we’re preparing to go to the World Cup, there’s no doubt in our mind that’s what we should be doing,” Southgate told a news conference.“Clearly it’s a really serious matter and it’s developing very quickly. But my job as the England football manager is to concentrate on the football and prepare the team.“And the only thing at this stage that is of highest importance is the safety and security of our players and absolutely of our travelling supporters. They’re the things we’re focused on really,” he said.England begin their tournament on June 18 when they face Tunisia in Volgograd.England squad:Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (West Ham United), Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley).Defenders: Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham), Kyle Walker (Man City), John Stones (Man City), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Alfie Mawson (Swansea), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham).Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Lewis Cook (Bournemouth), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Man Utd), Jake Livermore (West Brom), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).Forwards: Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)