Outer Anthony Elanga, 22, has played all ten Premier League matches – seven from the start – for the successful team Nottingham, which is third in the table after the big clubs Liverpool and Manchester City.
Then he is dropped from Jon Dahl Tomasson's squad for the Nations League finale at home against Slovakia (16 November) and Azerbaijan (19 November).
Football is tough, there is great competition. Alexander Isak is back from injury and Emil Forsberg has done very well in New York Red Bulls. The decision is made due to competition reasons, says the Dane.
Tops the group
Elanga was picked already in the break against Azerbaijan in the opening match of the Nations League in early September. Since then, the 22-year-old has had to settle for a shorter substitute appearance against Estonia and now he is not in the squad at all.
Newcastle star Alexander Isak missed the October matches against Slovakia and Estonia due to a broken toe. Then, midfielder Emil Forsberg had recently made a comeback from injury, but when his New York RB recently knocked out reigning champions Columbus Crew in the MLS playoffs, the 33-year-old was influential.
Central defender Alex Douglas, Lech Poznan, who surprisingly was selected for the national team in the autumn and got playing time directly, is missing. Douglas is suspended against Slovakia and is struggling with minor injuries, according to the national team captain.
It's a combination of those things, says Tomasson about the decision not to select Douglas.
Star striker selected
The quartet Gustav Nilsson, Jens Cajuste, Robin Olsen, and Ludwig Augustinsson are not available. Nilsson and Augustinsson are injured – Cajuste needs rest and Olsen has just returned after injury.
Otherwise, Jon Dahl Tomasson presented a expected squad where, for example, Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyökeres is selected. The striker scored three goals against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
Both Sweden and Slovakia have ten points after four matches and top group 1 in the C-division of the Nations League.
Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson, Stoke, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, AIK, Jacob Widell Zetterström, Derby.
Defenders: Gabriel Gudmundsson, Lille, Isak Hien, Atalanta, Emil Krafth, Newcastle, Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, Manchester United, Ken Sema, Watford, Eric Smith, St Pauli, Carl Starfelt, Celta Vigo, Daniel Svensson, FC Nordsjælland.
Midfielders/forwards: Yasin Ayari, Brighton, Lucas Bergvall, Tottenham, Hugo Bolin, Malmö FF, Niclas Eliasson, AEK Aten, Emil Forsberg, New York Red Bull, Viktor Gyökeres, Sporting, Alexander Isak, Newcastle, Jesper Karlström, Udinese, Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenham, Hugo Larsson, Frankfurt, Sebastian Nanasi, Strasbourg, Anton Salétros, AIK.
