Five Tottenham players called up to England squad for international break

It seems like only yesterday that we were complaining about an entirely different international break, and yet now here we are again, looking ahead to another one. Today, there’s further news on that front as Gareth Southgate has released his roster for the upcoming Nations League match against Croatia and Spain.

Five Tottenham players have been called up to the Three Lions: Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier, and Harry Winks. Dele Alli, of course, misses out due to injury.

That’s a roster that is heavy on young, fringe talent, which is probably good at this stage, as there are a number of players on that list that are likely going to feature heavily for England at the 2020 Euros.

By now most of you already know my general take on international fixtures, especially this early in the season and at the beginning of a new World Cup cycle. I’d like nothing better than for Eric Dier, Harry Kane, Danny Rose, and Kieran Trippier to get some rest — lord knows they could use it, and hopefully Southgate doesn’t ride them too hard.

But Winksy? He needs minutes, and so I’m glad that Gareth Southgate called him up this time. Since his return from his ankle injury, he’s made steady improvement but still isn’t quite up to what we remember from his early appearances with Spurs. Winksy only has one cap, from last October, but impressed in that appearance. For a while before his injury it looked like he might have had a chance to go to Russia. It’s nice that it looks like he’s going to be given a chance to establish himself internationally again.

Southgate also announced that he has signed a new contract that will keep him as England manager through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.