Injury list gives Ben big break
into one major headache for Southgate – can he consider continuing with his three-at-theback system with such limited resources?
Ben Gibson, 24, was immediately called up for the first time to the squad with Gary Cahill also missing through suspension.
That said, it would be a brave man indeed to put the Middlesbrough player alongside Wednesday’s debutant Michael Keane in a game where there are World Cup points at stake.
John Stones and Eric Dier could complete the triumvirate with Keane at the heart of the defence but it would leave a somewhat lightweight pairing of Jake Livermore and Alex OxladeChamberlain in central midfield.
In the absence of Jordan Henderson and Danny Drinkwater, then, the back three has to be put on hold.
The indications are that Southgate was set to revert to a four as the better way to open up Lithuania anyway.
Raheem Sterling is an injury doubt but fits a 4-2-3-1 better and with Jamie Vardy picking up a knock against Germany, it could be a chance for Marcus Rashford to start. If the England manager favours experience, Jermain Defoe may come back to lead the line. THERE are some horrible mismatches in World Cup qualifying this weekend. Bosnia are 1-100 to beat Gibraltar and the Czech Republic are the same price to win in San Marino.
Whack those in an accumulator with Holland (8-15 v Bulgaria), Portugal (1-4 v Hungary), Switzerland (1-9 v Latvia), Belgium (3-10 v Greece) and France (1-20 v Luxembourg) and it pays 2-1 and is about as close to a near certainty as an acca can be.
England are 1-8 to beat Lithuania so the value may come from backing Adam Lallana (11-2) and Dele Alli (7-2) to score first. (4-2-3-1) SETKUS SLAVICKAS KLIMAVICIUS MIKUCKIS VAITKUNAS KUKLYS ZULPA NOVIKOVAS SLIVKA CERNYCH VALSKIS