This week’s friendlies against Holland and Italy provide Gareth Southgate with his final opportunity to see his players in action before he has to select his squad for the World Cup in Russia. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson looks at how things are shaping up, and assesses who is likely to be involved this summer
GOALKEEPERS
The goalkeeping position has long been a problem, but it is hard to remember a time when an England team headed to a major tournament with such a surfeit of quality options between the sticks.
When Joe Hart dropped a series of clangers at the European Championships in France, it seemed unthinkable he would still be starting at a World Cup finals in two years’ time. Since then, he has failed at both Roma and West Ham, yet his rivals’ inadequacies mean he is still set to figure in Southgate’s squad this summer and could even start the opening game against Tunisia.
Jack Butland was supposed to replace him, but the Stoke goalkeeper has erred repeatedly this season, with his comical own goal in last month’s draw at Leicester setting the alarm bells ringing. Even so, he is probably a marginal favourite to start in Russia.
Jordan Pickford would be my choice, partly because of the quality of his distribution, which could help England play on the counter-attack. That said though, the former Sunderland shot-stopper has hardly been in flawless form with Everton.
Burnley’s Nick Pope is the only other serious contender for a place in the squad, with Fraser Forster’s form having dropped off a cliff in the last 12 months.
Likely to make World Cup squad: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Joe Hart
Likely to start vs Tunisia: Jack Butland
DEFENDERS
On the evidence of November’s friendlies against Germany and Brazil, Southgate appears to have concluded that his England side is best suited by a formation featuring three centre-halves and wing-backs.
Finding sufficient quality central defenders is an issue though, particularly as Southgate seems to have concluded that Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling’s international days are over. Neither is in the squad for this week’s friendlies, and it would therefore be a surprise if they made it to Russia.
John Stones is a guaranteed starter despite his recent absence from the Manchester City team, while Harry Maguire is that rarest of beasts – an English defender who will be heading to the World Cup on the back of an excellent season.
Phil Jones will make it if he can get himself back to full fitness in the next couple of months, but that still leaves at least one central-defensive spot up for grabs. James Tarkowski and Alfie Mawson have been given a chance to impress against Holland and Italy, and if either was to produce a couple of impressive performances, they’d definitely have a chance of making to Russia. Joe Gomez hasn’t figured much for Liverpool in the last few months, but his performances for England in November mean he has credit in the bank.
The full-back positions probably represent the strongest areas of Southgate’s squad. Kyle Walker and Kieran Tripper represent two top-class options at right wing-back, while Ryan Bertrand and Danny Rose are equally appealing on the left. That will mean no place for the likes of Luke Shaw or Aaron Cresswell.
Likely to make World Cup squad: Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Ryan Bertrand, Danny Rose, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Joe Gomez
Likely to start vs Tunisia: Kyle Walker, Phil Jones, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Ryan Bertrand
MIDFIELDERS
England’s midfield has been a moveable feast throughout Southgate’s reign, and there are still a host of players who will be sweating right up to the formal announcement of this summer’s 23-man squad.
Assuming Southgate sticks to his plan of playing with five at the back, England are likely to field two sitting central midfielders with two more advanced playmakers playing ahead of them.
Eric Dier will almost certainly play immediately in front of the centre-halves, and the Spurs player’s ability to slot into the backline makes him an especially valuable asset.
Jordan Henderson has his detractors, but you know what you’re going to get from the former Sunderland midfielder, and Southgate is clearly a fan. Quite what the England boss continues to see in Jake Livermore is hard to fathom, but the fact the West Brom midfielder is likely to feature this week suggests he has to have a chance of making it to Russia.
What about Jack Wilshere? The Arsenal man looked to have been cast onto the international scrapheap when he was excluded from the second half of the qualifying campaign, but a lack of in-form alternatives means he could yet enjoy a phoenix-like renaissance. The same is true of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has been reborn at Liverpool.
Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling are surely nailed-on starters provided they remain fit, so that leaves the likes of Jesse Lingard, Adam Lallana, Ashley Young and Ruben Loftus-Cheek battling for a squad spot. Lingard is likely to make it, but the rest will probably miss out.
Likely to make World Cup squad: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Jake Livermore, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard.
Likely to start vs Tunisia: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling
FORWARDS
Every England fan was forced into a massive intake of breath when Harry Kane fell down clutching his ankle earlier this month, but thankfully the Spurs striker should be fit in plenty of time to line up against Tunisia. Given his schedule over the last couple of seasons, a six-week break at this stage of the campaign might actually do him good.
Kane is likely to start as a lone striker in the summer, with Alli and Sterling playing off him, but Southgate will want to have sufficient attacking options in his squad to enable him to play with two players up front if required.
Jamie Vardy has been in excellent form with Leicester in recent weeks, and will probably start this week’s friendlies in the absence of Kane. At this stage, he looks to be Southgate’s preferred stand-in.
Marcus Rashford will make the World Cup squad, partly because of his attacking qualities if asked to lead the line, and partly because he is comfortable cutting in from the left-hand side as an alternative to either Alli or Sterling. He is likely to be Southgate’s first port of call from the substitutes’ bench if things are not going to plan.
That leaves one more squad spot up for grabs. Andy Carroll is often touted as a ‘Plan B’, but his time at international level would appear to have been and gone. The same is true of Jermain Defoe, who might have had a chance had he been playing more regularly at Bournemouth.
Tammy Abraham played in November but has struggled at Swansea, while Daniel Sturridge’s injury issues mean he cannot be relied on. By process of elimination, that probably means Danny Welbeck will scrape into the squad.
Likely to make the World Cup squad: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Likely to start vs Tunisia: Harry Kane
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