Have pedigree
‘We’ve seen his ability’
DEBATE: SHOULD GARETH GAMBLE ON GUNNER?
MATTHEW DUNN and TONY BANKS, the two Daily Express reporters who have watched England closest under Gareth Southgate, agree on 22 of the names they expect to see in his final World Cup squad. However, the final choice seems to be between the Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, a player who continues to polarise opinions, and Crystal Palace’s Chelsea loanee Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
ENGLAND’S LIKELY WORLD CUP SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Joe Hart (West Ham) DEFENDERS: John Stones (Man City), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Kyle Walker (Man City), Ashley Young (Man Utd), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Phil Jones (Man Utd) MIDFIELD: Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Alex OxladeChamberlain (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Man Utd), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)/Ruben Loftus-Cheek (C Palace) FORWARDS: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Dele Alli (Tottenham), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd) managed just 30 minutes of the last friendly before the England squad is chosen, you believe you have done enough.
Step forward Adam Lallana. When asked whether he was sweating on selection given his injury problems this season, the Liverpool midfielder said: “No, not really. I’m confident enough in my ability and what I bring to the squad.
“I’m smart enough not to be complacent and to know that there are plenty of talented players that want to make
WHY IT SHOULD BE RUBEN
CRYSTAL PALACE midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the identikit model of what Gareth Southgate wants his England players to be: tall, athletic, fast, strong – and more than capable of playing a bit of football. The inclusion of the 22-year-old would be the forward-thinking England manager’s little treat to himself with one eye on Qatar 2022. Experience of being around the squad and coping with the stresses involved can only fast-track his development. He could be an asset in Russia, too, and the player of the Under-21 tournament at Toulon in 2016 has a history of stepping up to the plate. At 6ft 3ins, he would bring much-needed height to Southgate’s pacy but diminutive squad. sure. But me and the boss have a great relationship. We have been speaking frequently throughout the season. He recognises what I bring to the team, my team-mates recognise that and I recognise it. “I feel I’m physically and mentally as fresh as anyone going into the end of the season and going into the World Cup.” That is the positive mental energy Southgate wants to take to Russia with him. A belief that comes from sharing a dressing room with players such as Mohamed Salah. It may be a vicarious hope, but after two World Cups in which England have stunk the place out, can we not take positivity from a squad that at least has the whiff of success in its nostrils? great competition for places but he is well in that mix and his relationship with Harry, is of course, a really important factor in that.
“That is one of the big things about being an England manager, you will have decisions to make.
“Dele is well in the frame and there is no reason he cannot come to Russia and have an impact on that tournament.
“We have seen the ability he has. I am looking forward to watching him over the next few weeks.”
Southgate claimed that he had planned to give Alli at least a cameo against Italy at Wembley, before a late injury to defender John Stones disrupted those plans. Furthermore, the Three Lions boss was at pains to insist he was not trying to deliver any sort of message with the international snub.
“There is no ulterior motive for leaving him out,” he said.
FIFA regulations insist that Southgate submits a ‘release list’ of 35 players on May 14 – the day after the Premier League season finishes. The final list of 23 names must be chosen from those by June 4.
Southgate has indicated, however, that he will announce his 23 at the earliest possible opportunity after the English club season ends, with just a handful of additional players put on standby in case of injury.