Former Sunderland and Middlesbrough keeper Jason Steele handed surprise England call-up for Uruguay and Japan friendlies | OneFootball

Jason Steele, 35, a former Sunderland and Middlesbrough goalkeeper, has been named in Thomas Tuchel's 35-man England squad for friendlies with Uruguay and Japan later this month. The call-up comes despite him not featuring in the Premier League this season.

The FA said his selection raises the prospect that he could join the World Cup squad as a training goalkeeper in the summer.

The Newton Aycliffe-born keeper joined Sunderland from Blackburn in summer 2017 as the club adjusted to the Championship after relegation under David Moyes. He started the first four league games under Simon Grayson and made 18 appearances in all competitions. That campaign ended in consecutive relegations, sending the Black Cats into the third tier for only the second time in their history.

Steele left before the following season, signing for Brighton on a free transfer. He has since made over 60 appearances and featured in their 2023/24 Europa League campaign, and this is his first senior England call-up after youth caps.

The enlarged squad has been split into two camps to assess players with fewer minutes and to sharpen competition for places on the plane to the United States. From Friday and Saturday, a further 10 or 11 rested players are due to report, before a refreshed group moves into the Japan match.

Source: Sunderland Echo