MINGS TO MAKE DEBUT AS SOUTHGATE RIPS UP TEAM

GARETH SOUTHGATE is considering ripping up the team that suffered England’s first qualifying defeat in 10 years against Czech Republic on Friday night when they face Bulgaria — with Tyrone Mings to make a shock debut. The England boss is planning significant changes — as many as six — to the team that started the shock defeat in Prague and was last night also pondering an alteration in formation to boot. Southgate could make three changes in defence with Mings to replace Michael Keane at centre back, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is poised to take Kieran Trippier’s position at right back and Ben Chilwell set to play at left back due to Danny Rose’s suspension. Mings’s selection will come as a blow to Joe Gomez, who would have hoped to replace Keane. But his lack of regular action at Liverpool appears to be counting against him. In midfield, Harry Winks is pushing to replace Declan Rice, who missed yesterday’s training session. The Football Association have not specified why Rice was forced to miss the final session before tonight’s clash here in Sofia, but Sportsmail understands the West Ham star is suffering from a cold. Southgate insisted last night Rice is available for selection, but the fact he missed training yesterday means he is unlikely to play from the start with Winks primed to take his place. The England manager started with two holding midfielders — Rice and Jordan Henderson — against the Czechs while Mason Mount started in the No 10 role as Southgate deployed a 4-2-3-1 system. However, Southgate is set to revert back to a conventional three-man midfield tonight as he switches to the 4-3-3 he has largely relied on for the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. Winks and Henderson are likely to take two of those slots with Ross Barkley understood to be pushing Mount hard for the final berth. Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling should start in attack, with Marcus Rashford, who has started the previous two England internationals on the bench, pushing to replace Jadon Sancho. England players will urge each other to stay true to their passing principles tonight after going more direct in the closing stages in Prague. Southgate’s men believe they were guilty of playing longer balls as they searched for a second goal. The issue is something the players have spoken about themselves over the weekend and are mindful of falling into a similar trap here in Sofia.