Southgate explains why Chelsea duo fully deserve England call

Gareth Southgate says he has no doubt Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Ross Barkley fully deserve their England call-ups.

Mount, on loan at Derby County, has been included by England boss Southgate despite having never made a Premier League appearance.

The 19-year-old is joined in the squad for Nations League matches against Spain and Croatia by Barkley, who gets his first call-up for two and a half years.

Barkley, signed from Everton last year, has overcome a hamstring problem and has looked impressive for Chelsea this season.

Former England Under-21 boss Southgate knows Mount well, having previously invited him to train with the senior squad.

And the youngster’s superb displays in the Championship for Derby persuaded Southgate to give him a chance.

“He played last year on loan at Vitesse and has had another season of men’s football and created more chances than any other player in the league,” Southgate said.

There is no place in the squad for Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has been nursing a shin injury.

Barkley, on the other hand, appears to have put his injury nightmare behind him.

“Ross has started the season in the team at Chelsea. He is a player we know well, who has good technical quality. This is a good opportunity for him to come in,” Southgate explained.