World Cup 2022 LIVE: England latest news after James Maddison injury

The call-up came in the morning, the goal in the evening. Marcus Rashford’s career is sufficiently stellar that he has had better days but not too many, and certainly not recently. His renaissance and rejuvenation were rubber-stamped by Gareth Southgate, naming him in England’s World Cup squad. A different sort of comeback featured a Rashford equaliser: twice behind against Aston Villa, Manchester United triumphed 4-2 by offering the kind of visceral entertainment that has characterised Rashford at his best.

His combination of pace and potency, his direct, high-speed running has meant that, from his debut, Rashford felt a player in United’s truest traditions, and not merely because he has helped extend the record of an academy graduate figuring in a first-team squad every match for 85 years. Perhaps it was uncoincidental that United’s worst season for more than three decades was the poorest of Rashford’s career.

If few are advocates for a winter World Cup, Rashford may be in that select band. Rewind to June and he had no goal in 15 games and no spot in the England squad. He had only scored twice under Ralf Rangnick. He felt unselectable. Regime change has brought a shift in fortunes. “When we start the season, he wasn’t [picked by England], so it is really important,” said Erik ten Hag. He ignored his own role in Rashford’s revival, merely noting that: “In this moment we have a lot of players who are nominated for the World Cup and that is good for Manchester United.”

The Netherlands have included uncapped midfielder Xavi Simons in their World Cup squad, but there is no place for Manchester United’s Donny van de Beek or Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch.

Simons, 19, has impressed at PSV this season and has been selected by Louis van Gaal as the Netherlands return to the World Cup following their failure to qualify in 2018.

The 30-year-old frontman, who was last capped in 2019, was one of three Magpies – goalkeeper Nick Pope and full-back Kieran Tripper are the others – to be named in Southgate’s 26-man squad for Qatar on Thursday, although he is facing a race against time to recover from illness to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

Howe, who has worked with Wilson since he signed him for Bournemouth in 2014, has seen him emerge from injury misery – he has twice fought his way back from cruciate ligament ruptures – to take his place on the world stage, and is convinced he has the quality and strength of character to serve his country with distinction.

Swansea midfielder Ollie Cooper will travel with Wales’ World Cup squad to Qatar.

Cooper has been called up after Fulham teenager Luke Harris withdrew as a stand-by player for personal reasons.

“Oli Cooper will be joining the team to Qatar as a travelling standby player,” Wales posted on their official Twitter account.

The World Cup 2022 in Qatar is upon us and all 32 teams are in the process of naming their squads, with each country allowed to select a 26-man group for the first time.

It means there will be 831 players heading to the first winter World Cup, with a deadline of Monday 14 November to submit the squads – just seven days before the tournament begins with hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador.

Gareth Southgate will name his England group on Thursday afternoon, with debate currently ongoing over a number of the spots, while other countries’ announcements will filter through across the week.

Kane started his 21st consecutive match for Spurs this season at the City Ground and 12 of those have occurred during a packed six-week schedule but there will be one final domestic fixture for him to focus on before his attention turns to the World Cup in Qatar.

Qatar has been the subject of criticism due to the country’s treatment of migrant workers and discriminative LGBTQ+ laws.

Dua Lipa has dismissed speculation she will perform at the opening ceremony of the World Cup.

The 27-year-old singer added she would not visit the country until it has “fulfilled all the human rights pledges” it made when it was awarded the right to host the tournament in December 2010.

She said on Instagram: “There is currently a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar.

It’s a blow for Ghana as Real Mallorca midfielder Baba Iddrisu will miss the World Cup with injury.

Reports from Ghana Soccernet suggest the Black Stars will now be without the 26-year-old.

Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Richard Ofori are also doubts for Otto Addo’s side.

There are still four squads to be announced, including Mexico.

El Tri have a rich history in the World Cup with their ultimate goal to reach the quarter-finals after so much pain in the last 16.

Latest reports suggest Diego Lainez and Santiago Giménez will miss out in Gerardo Martino’s 26-man squad.