London (AFP) – Sam Allardyce marked his first squad announcement as England manager on Sunday by including uncapped West Ham United midfielder Michail Antonio in a 23-man party for next week’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia.

Antonio was included on the same day he scored for the Hammers in their 3-1 loss away to Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Everton’s Ross Barkley, an unused squad member during England’s miserable Euro 2016 campaign that concluded with the embarrassment of a defeat by Iceland, was dropped despite scoring two goals in his first four matches this season.

James Milner, who has retired from international football, was omitted along with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, now in the Under-21 squad, and the injured duo of Ryan Bertrand and Jack Wilshere.

As expected goalkeeper Joe Hart was retained despite losing his first-team place at City under new manager Pep Guardiola. 

England squad to play Slovakia in a 2018 World Cup Group F qualifier in Trnava on Sunday, September 4 (1600 GMT kick-off):  

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Strikers: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)