YOUNG AT HEART
Ashley gets England nod but Dier set to miss out
ASHLEY Young appears to have won the race to play at left wing-back in England’s World Cup opener against Tunisia.
Jordan Henderson is also set to start ahead of Eric Dier as England’s defensive midfielder, while Harry Maguire is poised to line up alongside Kyle Walker and John Stones in a three-man defence.
Jordan Pickford looks certain to start in goal, with Kieran Trippier set to play at right wing-back. If the team that featured in training yesterday starts on
Monday, nine will be handed their World Cup debuts.
At the start of yesterday’s training session, England manager Gareth Southgate urged his players not to be overwhelmed by the challenge ahead and to stay committed to the forward-thinking principles set out during their three-week training camp at St George’s Park.
Southgate is ready to unleash a young and vibrant team in Volgograd on Monday night with attacking quartet Harry Kane, 24, Raheem Sterling, 23, Jesse Lingard, 25 and Dele Alli, 22 in line to take on Tunisia.
However, it is 32-year- old Manchester United star Young who could be the shock selection ahead of Danny Rose. Sportsmail understands Young occupied the left wingback role during drills at England’s training facility in Zelenogorsk.
Because Rose is naturally left-footed, the England manager certainly sees the benefits of using the Spurs star. But Young looks to have edged ahead of Rose in the race to start against Tunisia. Southgate is not convinced that Rose, 27, is fit and sharp enough, following an injury-hit season at Tottenham, to cope with the energysapping temperature in Volgograd, which could reach 30°C.
Marcus Rashford missed a second successive day of full training yesterday to virtually assure Sterling of a place in the starting XI. The 20-year- old Manchester United forward suffered a knee injury during a private match at St George’s Park last Monday and has not trained since.
Under the watchful eye of head physio Steve Kemp, Rashford completed a strength and conditioning session at the team hotel yesterday afternoon. There were plans for Rashford to do some extra running last night too.
England physios remain relaxed about the issue, with Rashford’s omission from yesterday’s session viewed as a precaution to ensure the injury does not flare up.
Southgate remains confident of having Rashford available for the game against Tunisia but even if he does prove his fitness, the forward is likely to be on the bench.