Title: Lee Carsley Throws Ex-England Star a Lifeline After Leaving Him Out of First Squad
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In a surprising twist, interim England boss Lee Carsley has revealed that former Newcastle United striker Ivan Toney could still have a role to play in the squad, despite being left out of his first selection.
Toney’s move to Saudi Arabia has raised doubts about his England future, but Carsley has stressed that he is keeping all options open. "I think ultimately as an interim head coach I don’t think I can rule anyone in or out," he explained. "It would be really interesting to go out and see Ivan play and see the level and see the tempo and see the standard."
Carsley continued to emphasize his willingness to re-evaluate Toney’s situation, stating: "We’ve got access to the games so I’ll definitely be following his progression out there. It would be good to go and see an actual live game to get a feel of the atmosphere and the pace of the game because sometimes you don’t quite get that on a video."
The comments have led to speculation about Toney’s chances of returning to the England setup, although Carsley remains cautious: "So, yeah, he’s definitely not ruled out. We have to be mindful… I’ve got a perception of the football out there but I’ve not been out there and seen it."
Given his decision to leave Toney out of his initial squad, many fans would be surprised if he didn’t give him another opportunity to prove himself. "So I think it would be reckless to rule somebody in or out so he’s definitely not ruled out and yeah I would like to go and sample and see what the football’s like out there," he said.
Toney isn’t the only player left on the fringe by Carsley. Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Leicester City’s James Maddison, among others, were all absent from the initial selection.
When questioned about Rashford and Maddison’s omissions, Carsley acknowledged that they are strong players, but stated: "There are players ahead of them. They are on the radar and will be considered in the future."
It remains to be seen whether Toney, Rashford, and Maddison will be given opportunities to prove themselves in future squads. For now, England fans will be following Carsley’s decisions closely as he looks to mould the team in his own image.
Topics: England, Lee Carsley, Ivan Toney, Football
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