England in sweat over Alli

and this time maybe we’ve not been able to achieve that because of the number of injuries.”

Southgate is also sweating on whether he will have Tottenham’s Dele Alli, above, to call upon despite naming him in his 26-man squad.

Alli is facing a FIFA ban for making a middle-finger gesture in the victory against Slovakia at Wembley earlier this month.

The player claims it was aimed at his former Tottenham team-mate Kyle Walker and not at the referee.

He expects to hear the governing body’s verdict today but Southgate said whatever happens, Alli knows he cannot step out of line again.

Alli is still serving a three-match Champions League ban for his red card against Gent last season and Southgate said: “I know it’s been galling for Dele to miss the two Champions League games and I don’t think he needs any more than that for something to register. The thing now is understanding and they are the sorts of things I talk to him about.

“Young players make mistakes – it won’t happen again.”

Southgate has left out Leicester hotshot Jamie Vardy as he is nursing a hip injury, even though he expects him to play at Bournemouth tomorrow.

“He is not training,” said Southgate. “They have managed to get him on the pitch on a Saturday.

“For a player there are only so many weeks you can do that.

“He would run through brick walls for us, no question, and his mentality is top drawer. Whatever the perception is, it’s not the reality.

“He needs an injection and it will rule him out of our matches. He has not been training and he has been playing with lots of pain.”

ENGLAND SQUAD: