Allardyce plans Shaw talks with unsure Man Utd boss Mourinho

Allardyce will be naming his first squad ahead of next weekend’s opening World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, England’s only match of this global break after a planned friendly with Croatia was cancelled.

Question marks over his place in the team appear to have been answered by a strong start to the season at Old Trafford, where Jose Mourinho has used him as a number 10, shoring up his position in the worldwide fold ahead of the World Cup qualifier in Slovakia on September 4.

Manchester United’s Luke Shaw, Everton’s Phil Jagielka, Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater and Arsenal’s Theo Walcott returned after missing Euro 2016, where defeat by Iceland in the last 16 cost Roy Hodgson his job.

None more so than Ross Barkley.

John Terry was sounded out over a return to the Three Lions’ camp with Allardyce set to name his first squad on Sunday evening.

It’s similar to Jamie Vardy.

“It’s the hardest squad I’ve ever picked because it’s England”, he said.

Among the 23 players heading to the national football centre is West Ham winger Michail Antonio, who is the only uncapped player in the squad.

“The impact he had at the end of last season and the start of this, his attacking flair, his quality of final-third delivery, and his goal record from a wide position – I think that that journey is something that deserves to be in this squad”.

This is another lad with a great journey – it’s a fantastic journey, from non-league to now an global call-up.

The Slovakia tie represents, probably, the most hard fixture in a qualification group for England which also includes Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta.

Allardyce was quick to highlight that fine form, and also explained that Antonio’s wide-ranging attributes make him a worthy player of inclusion.

“Anybody, Jack Wilshere, [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain would like to get back in”, Allardyce said about Barkley’s omission.

“I’m looking forward to him coming, and looking forward to meeting everybody”. In my first season in the Premier League, even though I had good stats, the England manager would have had to take a risk on me.

Wayne Rooney will keep the England captaincy, the Football Association have confirmed.

“It looks like the gaffer now believes that I’ve done enough to be in there, so hopefully I can prove him right”.

Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater, who made his debut in the Euro 2016 warm-up matches, is also given a chance to shine, while there is a recall for Arsenal forward Theo Walcott.