LONDON: West Ham midfielder Michail Antonio – whose goal led their vain fightback against Manchester City – is the one novelty in Sam Allardyce’s first 23-man squad as new England manager ahead of the World Cup qualifier in Slovakia.

In all there are five changes from the squad that failed at Euro 2016 in France under Roy Hodgson, with Luke Shaw, Phil Jagielka, Danny Drinkwater and Theo Walcott all returning.

Antonio’s call-up is the biggest surprise in Allardyce’s selection, though he has taken well to life in the Premier League since joining the Hammers from Nottingham Forest a year ago.

The 26-year-old scored nine times in 32 appearances for West Ham last season and has netted headers in his last two games against Bournemouth and City.

The return of Manchester United defender Shaw was expected and he is now ready to resume his international career after making a successful return to action from the double leg break that sidelined him throughout the 2015/16 campaign.

Leicester title-winner Drinkwater was also widely tipped to win a place after becoming the last man to be cut from Hodgson’s pre-Euro training squad.

Jagielka recall

Jagielka adds an extra central defensive option, edging out the likes of Burnley’s Michael Keane and Hull’s Curtis Davies, while Walcott may consider himself fortunate to be back already after a quiet start to the season with Arsenal.

Joe Hart retains his place despite his ongoing exile at Manchester City, with Fraser Forster and Tom Heaton also included as Jack Butland is not yet match fit.

No captain has been named, with Allardyce unlikely to nominate his chosen man until after the squad get together at St George’s Park on Monday evening, but the previous incumbent Wayne Rooney is listed among the midfielders.

The country’s record goalscorer played in central midfield in France but his United manager Jose Mourinho has called time on that experiment and Allardyce had been expected to follow suit.

Explaining his decision to bring Antonio aboard, Allardyce told thefa.com: “I think he’s in outstanding form.

“This is another lad with a great journey – it’s a fantastic journey that he’s been on, from non-league to now an international call-up. He scored nine goals in his first season and he’s a terrific athlete, a good crosser and a goal-scorer.

“I’m looking forward to him coming, and looking forward to meeting everybody. Hopefully we will have a good few days’ preparation and get to know each other on the basis of trying to go and win in Slovakia.”

England squad to face Slovakia: Forster (Southampton), Hart (Man City), Heaton (Burnley); Cahill (Chelsea), Clyne (Liverpool), Jagielka (Everton), Rose (Tottenham), Shaw (Man Utd), Smalling (Man Utd), Stones (Man City), Walker (Tottenham); Alli (Tottenham), Antonio (West Ham), Dier (Tottenham), Drinkwater (Leicester), Henderson (Liverpool), Lallana (Liverpool), Rooney (Man Utd), Sterling (Man City), Walcott (Arsena); Kane (Tottenham), Sturridge (Liverpool), Vardy (Leicester).

#########