![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2.37564864.jpg\")
Newly-eligible Declan Rice was the only new face in Gareth Southgate\u2019s England squad for this month\u2019s Euro 2020 qualifiers.<\/p>\nNewly-eligible Declan Rice was the only new face in Gareth Southgate\u2019s England squad for this month\u2019s Euro 2020 qualifiers.<\/p>\n
The Three Lions kick off Group A against the Czech Republic at Wembley next Friday before heading to Podgorica to take on Montenegro.<\/p>\n
Southgate has named a 25-man squad for the Euro 2020 double-header, with West Ham midfielder Rice, as expected, the headline inclusion.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old appeared for the Republic of Ireland\u2019s youth teams and won three senior caps, but FIFA last week ratified his switch to England as those three appearances came in friendlies.<\/p>\n
Rice was the only uncapped player in the squad as Southgate favored the tried and tested on the whole.<\/p>\n
There was a recall for Tom Heaton, whose impressive form for Burnley has seen him selected alongside fellow goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland.<\/p>\n
Southgate has kept faith with Kieran Trippier, despite questions over fitness and form, while James Tarkowski and Harry Maguire returned to the squad as Lewis Dunk and the injured Joe Gomez dropped out.<\/p>\n
Harry Winks and Jesse Lingard were not risked due to groin and hamstring issues respectively, but Callum Wilson did enough on his return from a seven-week lay-off to be included again.<\/p>\n
Rice was on Tuesday named the Republic of Ireland\u2019s Young Player of the Year and Southgate recognized his decision to play for England was a very significant one.<\/p>\n
He said of calling up the West Ham player: \u201cHis form warrants it. It\u2019s obviously been a well-publicized situation. We\u2019ve tracked him for quite a while.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re really big decisions. When you\u2019re asking a player to transfer association, you\u2019ve got to make sure they\u2019ve got a future with you. We like what we\u2019ve seen. I think he\u2019ll fit very well into the way that we work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere aren\u2019t many players of his age playing as well as he is the Premier League.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gareth Southgate\u2019s England kick off their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign this month (Adam Davy\/PA)
\nOf Heaton\u2019s return, Southgate added: \u201cHe\u2019s played well. He\u2019s had a really consistent run of games. We know Tom, he\u2019s been a really impressive character to have around our squad in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a good opportunity for him to come back with us. He\u2019s had a frustrating period where he missed out on a World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heaton will provide competition to Pickford, who has had a number of difficult games for Everton, including last weekend.<\/p>\n
Asked if Pickford was still guaranteed to be number one, Southgate said: \u201cJordan has played extremely well for us. You could look at any players across our squad and say at moments they\u2019ve played well and at moments they\u2019ve had difficult afternoons.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no question that was the case for Jordan at the weekend. I\u2019m never keen to say this player is number one, because you\u2019ve always got to have competition. We\u2019re pleased with what\u2019s Jordan done. Like everybody else, he has to train well and perform well.\u201d<\/p>\n
I could pick players, give them a cap and stop them playing for someone else but I don’t think that’s right.<\/p>\n
Southgate did not pick either Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn or Crystal Palace full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who are both dual-qualified.<\/p>\n
Wan-Bissaka has played once for the Democratic Republic of Congo at under-20 level, while Gunn is coveted by Scotland.<\/p>\n
Southgate said: \u201cI could pick players, give them a cap and stop them playing for someone else but I don\u2019t think that\u2019s right. Angus has got a good challenge to get into our under-21s. There\u2019s some good competition for places.\u201d<\/p>\n