Ben White’s international exile is over. The Arsenal defender has been recalled to the England squad for the first time since his abrupt departure from the World Cup in Qatar, marking a significant twist in a career that has flourished at club level while lying dormant on the national stage.

The versatile 28-year-old, who has excelled primarily at right-back under Mikel Arteta, had not featured for England since leaving the World Cup camp for what were described at the time as personal reasons. In the months that followed, he made himself unavailable for selection, effectively drawing a line under his international prospects during Gareth Southgate’s tenure.

His return comes under new management and in unusual circumstances. White has been drafted into the squad for high-profile friendlies against Uruguay and Japan after Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah withdrew through injury. The call-up is a clear indication that England’s coaching staff view White’s form and tactical flexibility as too valuable to ignore.

White has four senior caps, his last appearance coming in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Ivory Coast at Wembley. Since then, he has become one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers, operating as an overlapping full-back, an auxiliary centre-back and, at times, an extra midfielder in Arteta’s fluid system. His ability to step into central defence or invert into midfield offers England additional options in and out of possession.

The decision to recall White also sharpens the focus on England’s right-back hierarchy. There is still no place for Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose omission underlines the intense competition in that position and the tactical preferences of the current regime.

Further changes to the squad include the withdrawal of Eberechi Eze, with the creative Arsenal midfielder replaced by Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes. Barnes, 28, returns to the international fold having won his only previous cap several years ago, and will view this as a rare opportunity to re-establish himself.

England face Uruguay at Wembley before hosting Japan, fixtures that will test the reshaped squad and offer White a chance to reintroduce himself on the international stage. For a player who has rebuilt his reputation quietly at club level, this recall represents both a personal reconciliation and a fresh chapter with his country.