Rose left out as Young gets nod
a bib, as were Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli.
Significantly, Danny Rose and Gary Cahill took part in a 10-a-side training drill still wearing their dark training tops.
The goalkeepers were involved in a separate drill with specialist coach Martyn Margetson but with No1 shirt-wearer Jordan Pickford almost certain to start, it seemed a good indication of England’s starting side three days before kick-off against Tunisia in Volgograd.
The biggest surprise was the selection of Young, 32, ahead of Rose, who appeared to have dispelled doubts about his fitness in the warm-up game against Costa Rica.
Marcus Rashford was still not able to train but Southgate hopes he will be able to do some work today.
The FA remain optimistic after the player tweeted on Wednesday his knee injury was nothing more than a “niggle” and it is hoped the striker will be involved against Tunisia.
It appeared to leave the selection of the ‘pivot’ player at the base of midfield as Southgate’s major selection conundrum, the strapping around Eric Dier’s thigh possibly a factor, opening the door to Henderson.
But Young’s selection is bound to raise a few eyebrows, not least as former England World Cup captain and Daily Express columnist Terry Butcher has made his concerns about the Manchester United player abundantly clear.
Describing him as potentially one of the biggest liabilities at the World Cup, Butcher said: “Your wing-backs have to be quick going forward and quick in recovery. Young is neither. That one area down our left could be our undoing.”
ENGLAND LINE-UP
IN REPINO JESSE LINGARD is the self-confessed dressingroom joker who wants to ensure England play with a smile on their face in the World Cup.
Jose Mourinho this week described Lingard as the sort of playful “naughty boy” that every teacher wants in his class because he lifts the mood.
And Lingard, 25, now feels confident and comfortable enough in the England camp to replicate his court jester role at Manchester United on the international stage.
It is all part of Gareth Southgate’s grand plan to ease the fear and tension that one of his predecessors Fabio Capello argued had strangled the life out of past England teams and prevented them playing to their full potential.
As England continued their preparations for Monday’s opening group game against Tunisia, Lingard smiled when he was asked if he had agreed with Mourinho’s comments.
“It’s always good for a player and a manager to be on the same level,” he said. “Jose understands me and he understands my character. It’s the way I’ve been brought up by my family. It helps around the camp. It’s always good to have a happy camp.
“I don’t really play pranks as such. I’m there for the spirit of the camp to get everyone going, to get them all happy.”
He underlined the relaxed approach yesterday by enjoying a game of tenpin bowling in the media centre here with teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier.
Southgate has worked hard to encourage his players to throw off the shackles and play with freedom and expression, as they did in the warm-up wins over Nigeria and Costa Rica.
Lingard, who like many of the squad played for Southgate in the Under-21s, will apply the same approach when the serious stuff starts in Volgograd. “The manager has got rid of the fear factor,” he said. “Southgate has come in with the mentality to play with freedom, play without fear, and you will enjoy your time more.
“So as a group of players that is what we are going to do – enjoy our football, play with no fear, play exciting football and at the same time, hopefully, get better results.”
The Tunisia game will be the biggest of his career but major occasions have never fazed Lingard, who has scored three memorable Wembley goals in the 2016 FA Cup final, the 2017 FA Community Shield and 2017 League Cup final – as well as notching his first England goal in a friendly with Holland in March. So what is the secret?
“You’ve just got to enjoy your time on the field, no matter what game it is, and embrace the moment,” he said. “You are with your team-mates playing football and it is a job you love doing so…
“We’ve been training together for a long time now so the confidence is up and we can’t wait to get going and we’re excited to make our mark on the World Cup.”
Part of the reason for Warrington-born Lingard’s laidback philosophy is because he was not a ‘silver spoon’ player destined for the top.