Roy Hodgson has left Daniel Sturridge out of his England squad ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia after Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers asked the Three Lions coach to rest the striker.
Anfield boss Rodgers confirmed earlier this week he had requested Sturridge be left out, saying: "If you are talking about players' availability [for international matches], then they need to be fit to play, and Daniel will not be fit to play."
Sturridge, 25, has been out of action since suffering a thigh injury in training on Sept. 5 while on England duty, with his club struggling in his absence.
With the striker out of contention, Hodgson has named three forwards in his squad -- in-form Arsenal front man Danny Welbeck, Liverpool's Rickie Lambert and England captain Wayne Rooney, who is the sole Manchester United representative in the 21-man party.
England squad is out. Here's the FA's team sheet. Danny Welbeck plays for which club again? pic.twitter.com/InFkx0jDNJ
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 2, 2014
Elsewhere, Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs has been called up by Hodgson after Luke Shaw was named in the England under-21 squad to face Croatia, having only just returned to action for his club after a hamstring injury.
Southampton duo Nathaniel Clyne and Fraser Forster have also been called up after impressive starts with the south coast club, while Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey also makes the cut.
Calum Chambers, meanwhile, has to settle for a placed in the under-21s despite impressive performances for Arsenal since joining from Saints this summer and making his senior international debut against Norway.
RH: Calum Chambers would be the next one to come in, but at the moment is 'loaned out' to the Under-21s
- England (@england) October 2, 2014
Squad in full:
Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City).
Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), John Stones (Everton).
Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Welbeck (Arsenal).