WITH England safely qualified for next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia, thoughts are turning to the make-up of Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson has decided who he would take – and who he would leave at home


GOALKEEPERS

Selected: Jack Butland, Fraser Forster, Jordan Pickford

Missing Out: Joe Hart, Tom Heaton, Ben Foster

The Northern Echo: Jack Butland will be in goal when England play Lithuania on Sunday


Gareth Southgate has consistently backed Joe Hart throughout his tenure as England boss, but I wouldn’t have the West Ham goalkeeper in my starting line-up for Russia. In fact, I wouldn’t even have him in the squad.

Hart should have been dropped after his calamitous errors in the Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland, and has made further mistakes during the current qualifying campaign, most notably when his flat-footedness helped Leigh Griffiths score with two free-kicks during the 2-2 draw in Scotland.

Jack Butland is a much more reliable goalkeeper, and having produced a solid enough display in Sunday’s 1-0 win in Lithuania, the Stoke shot-stopper deserves to be regarded as England’s number one.

I’d take Fraser Forster and Jordan Pickford as his understudies as both keepers have been in decent form in the Premier League this season and should still be around for the next two major tournament cycles. Hart is England’s past, and should be jettisoned accordingly.


DEFENDERS

Selected: Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand, John Stones, Gary Cahill, Phil Jones, Harry Maguire

Missing Out: Nathaniel Clyne, Aaron Cresswell, Michael Keane, Chris Smalling

The Northern Echo: John Stones


With Southgate keen to move to a three-man backline, with wing-backs pushing on to bolster the midfield, it will surely be essential to name eight defenders in next summer’s squad, rather than the seven that some pundits are suggesting.

Kyle Walker and Danny Rose would be the first-choice wing-backs provided the latter is fit, with Kieran Tripper and Ryan Bertrand joining them in the squad as cover. That means no place for Nathaniel Clyne, who has dropped down the pecking order in the last six months.

Centre-half is arguably England’s weakest position, so Southgate’s desire to shore things up by playing three at the back could be a wise move.

I’ve had my reservations about John Stones in the past, but his current form for Manchester City makes him England’s best centre-half by a distance. This could well be Gary Cahill’s final tournament, and for all that his lack of mobility is an issue, he deserves to go. The same is true of Phil Jones, who has started the season strongly with Manchester United and is now a much better bet than his club-mate, Chris Smalling.

The choice of the final centre-half was a tough one, and Southgate may well opt for Everton’s Michael Keane. I thought Keane was shaky in Vilnius at the weekend though, and I’d take Leicester’s Harry Maguire, who is at a slightly more advanced stage of his development.


MIDFIELDERS

Selected: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Jonjo Shelvey, Dele Alli, Adam Lallana, Harry Winks, Raheem Sterling

Missing Out: Jake Livermore, Danny Drinkwater, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Fabian Delph, Jesse Lingard, Ross Barkley

The Northern Echo: England manager Roy Hodgson speaks with Jonjo Shelvey during an England training session at St George's Park yesterday


A lack of quality central midfielders is a major handicap, and Southgate has still not got the balance right when it comes to moulding the England midfield.

That said, however, Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson still have to go because they are the only players capable of providing some protection to those behind him.

Both are fairly one-paced and predictable though, so it will be important to have a couple of central-midfield options that provide a more creative threat.

Harry Winks was only playing against Lithuania at the weekend, but his debut performance nevertheless caught the eye as he looked to get on the front foot and thread balls through to the forwards. If he can handle himself against Germany and Brazil in next month’s friendlies, I’d have him in the squad.

There is a growing call for Jack Wilshere to be given another chance, but his form over the last couple of seasons hardly merits a recall. Instead, I’d pick Jonjo Shelvey. Yes, the Newcastle midfielder has disciplinary issues, but he is one of the few players in the country capable of playing a pinpoint 50-yard pass to unlock a defence. He would bring something different to the rest of the squad.

Adam Lallana was England’s best player during the first half of the qualifying campaign, and provided he proves his fitness, he is a shoo-in for the squad. The same is true of Dele Alli, who is the closest thing England have to a world-class midfielder.

The final midfield choice is a tough one, but despite his repeated failures on the international stage, I’d stick with Raheem Sterling. He was wretched against Slovenia last week, but is a better player than either Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Theo Walcott, who have run out of lives on the international stage.


FORWARDS:

Selected: Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy, Tammy Abraham

Missing Out: Jermain Defoe, Andy Carroll, Danny Welbeck, Dominic Calvert-Lewin

The Northern Echo:


If Southgate is planning to use a 3-4-3 formation, then it will be important to have five attackers rather than an extra midfielder.

Harry Kane clearly picks himself, and for all that he struggled throughout Euro 2016, the Spurs striker will be key to England’s chances of achieving anything in Russia.

Marcus Rashford will almost certainly be alongside him in the starting line-up, but the rest of Southgate’s attacking line-up is less clear-cut.

I’d take Jamie Vardy because his energy and movement set him apart from the rest of the forward options, and I’d plump for Daniel Sturridge ahead of Jermain Defoe. Sturridge was poor when Liverpool played at Newcastle recently, but has shown signs of a revival in recent weeks whereas Defoe has struggled to make much of an impact at Bournemouth.

There will always be a temptation to take Andy Carroll as a potential ‘Plan B’, but I’m not sure this England side could be set up to play to the Tynesider’s strengths.

Danny Welbeck has produced some decent international performances in the past, but as a final wildcard, I’d go with Tammy Abraham. The Swansea loanee has been the star performer with the Under-21s in the last few months and could be a late springer if he continues to progress at the Liberty Stadium.