Aaron Cresswell earns first career England call-up

Aaron Cresswell has earned his first call up to the England National squad for the Three Lions’ 2018 World Cup Qualifier against Scotland, and a friendly against Spain next week. The 26-year-old left back replaces the injured Danny Drinkwater, as 22-year-old goalkeeper Jordan Pickford replaces Southampton’s Fraser Forster, also due to injury.

Cresswell has played four times since returning from injury in the summer, but has shown fine form in those matches. In his first game against Crystal Palace, the Ipswich Town product assisted Manuel Lanzini on the only goal of the game, before earning two yellow cards and a one match suspension later in the 1-0 victory.

Cresswell has been utilized in a left-wing back role for the Hammers recently, and it will be interesting to see how interim England manager Gareth Southgate utilizes him. England have left backs Danny Rose and Ryan Bertrand already in the squad.

Previously, Michail Antonio earned two England call ups, but received no game time from either Sam Allardyce or Southgate. The winger missed out on a third-consecutive call up.

Pickford and Cresswell will meet the England squad at St. George’s Park on Tuesday. The rest of England’s squad arrived Monday afternoon, completing light workouts after this weekend’s Premier League matches.