Jason Steele handed surprise England call-up for Uruguay and Japan friendlies | OneFootball

Jason Steele has earned a surprise place in Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man England squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan later this month.

The 35-year-old Brighton goalkeeper, formerly of Sunderland and Middlesbrough, has received his first senior call, and the FA said his selection could see him travel to the summer World Cup as a training goalkeeper.

Born in Newton Aycliffe, Steele joined Sunderland from Blackburn Rovers in summer 2017 as the club adjusted to the Championship after relegation under David Moyes. He started the first four league games for Simon Grayson and made 18 appearances in a season that ended with a second straight relegation to the third tier of English football.

He left before the following season, moving to Brighton on a free transfer. Steele has since played over 60 times and featured in their 2023/24 Europa League campaign. He has not featured in the Premier League this season.

Tuchel has split the expanded group into two phases, adding players short of minutes to increase competition for seats on the plane to the US. A further batch of 10 or 11, rested beforehand, will join from Friday and Saturday, before a mixed group faces Japan.

Source: Sunderland Echo