Aaron Wan-Bissaka only joined Manchester United from Crystal Palace over the summer, but the move to Old Trafford has resulted in a first-ever senior England call-up from Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate. The new Red Devils right-back is in the full national squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo at the expense of Manchester City counterpart and domestic treble winner Kyle Walker.
Wan-Bissaka, 21, only became a Premier League regular last season with Palace and his England inclusion over Walker, who has won seven trophies since leaving Spurs for United’s cross-city rivals, is a major snub from Southgate. He’s not the only Red Devils new boy included either. Harry Maguire, who cost United a world record fee for a defender from Leicester City, is named in the England squad alongside fellow regulars Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.
Four Reds have been named in the latest @England squad for their forthcoming fixtures against Bulgaria and Kosovo. 🏴
A special congratulations to @AWBissaka who receives a first senior #ThreeLions call-up! #MUFC pic.twitter.com/3LYL8EHyZ1
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 29, 2019
Red Devils academy products Tom Heaton, who left Burnley for Aston Villa this summer, and Michael Keane (now with Everton) are former players called up for international duty. Wan-Bissaka competes with Liverpool counterpart Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Tripper, who moved to La Liga club Atletico Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in the transfer window, for the right-back berth. In omitting Walker, Southgate has lowered the average age of his squad further. That willingness to place faith in youth has helped England turn a corner in recent years.
The Three Lions came fourth at the last World Cup in Russia and went one place better in the inaugural UEFA Nations League. With England overwhelming odds-on 1/50 favourites to top their Euros qualifying group, the latest international football betting on bet365 has them 9/2 second-favourites to win the tournament outright.
Here it is: your #ThreeLions squad for the #EURO2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo!https://t.co/h7MScWmxEx
— England (@England) August 29, 2019
Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings is the only other new call-up selected by Southgate, besides Wan-Bissaka, with City’s John Stones injured.
In other United international call-ups news, there is no still no place for Anthony Martial in the France setup even though he has started the season in promising fashion. Paul Pogba is included in midfield, but Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps prefers uncapped Lille youngster Jonathan Ikone – who scored just three goals last season – to Martial on his roster. Martial was last called up in March and has scored just one in 18 senior caps for France. Les Bleus battle Albania and Andorra in straightforward looking Euro qualifiers for the World Cup holders.
Wan-Bissaka looks set to be the latest Manchester United player to make his debut for England and based on his performances this season, as well as last season when he was at Crystal Palace, he has the potential to be part of the England setup for a long time.
