England Euro 2024 qualifying squad: Eberechi Eze and Lewis Dunk called up, but Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount left out

Updated 24/05/2023 at 13:27 GMT

England boss Gareth Southgate has called up Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. Eze has starred in the run-in for the Eagles, and has clearly impressed Southgate in the process. "Everyone I speak to talks brilliantly about him as a person," the England manager said. There was no place in the squad, however, for Raheem Sterling.

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Gareth Southgate has called up Eberechi Eze and Lewis Dunk for England's upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers, but has left Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount out of the squad.

There was also no place for Arsenal defender Ben White, but Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyrone Mings and Harry Maguire have been included.

England first travel to face Malta on June 16, before heading home to Old Trafford where they will take on North Macedonia on June 19.

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England sit top of qualifying Group C with two wins from two, having beaten Italy 2-1 away in March then won 2-0 against Ukraine at Wembley.

Following the June ties, the next Euro qualifying outing for Southgate's men is on September 9, when they face Ukraine.

On Eze, Southgate said: "We've liked him for a long time. He was very unfortunate just before the Euros, we were going to call him in and he got an injury on the day.

"He has finished the season really strongly. He can play in a couple of positions across the attacking line. Everyone I speak to talks brilliantly about him as a person."

Chelsea's Sterling has been left out following a chat with Southgate.

"He's not happy physically with his condition. He's been carrying a hamstring problem," said Southgate.

"He doesn't think he's operating at the level he needs."

Brentford's Ivan Toney is another absentee from the squad after he was banned for eight months for 232 betting breaches.

"I have spoken with him," said Southgate. "I don't know if that's allowed by the way, but if it isn't they can ban me and not add to his.

"The ban is the ban. He's recognised and accepted the punishment. What bothers me is we've got to look after people.

"He's injured at the moment, what does he do about getting fit? How do we give him some structure over the next few months so he can develop himself or be a better person at the end of it?

"I don't like the idea we leave somebody, they're not allowed to be part of the football community. I don't think that's how we should work, how the best rehabilitation programmes work.

"We're here to support him."