Ox in the box: Act of faith.. or desperation?
GARETH SOUTHGATE will keep faith with Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Wembley tonight. The England boss will name the 24-year-old (left) in his line-up against Slovenia despite his struggle for form since his £40million January move to Anfield. But Southgate has given him a big vote of confidence and he will start alongside Raheem Sterling, who will play in the No.10 role in the World Cup qualifier. When he named his squad, Southgate (right) said there were players he had
included whose club form did not merit a place in his 26.
And a key role tonight for Oxlade-Chamberlain will be a huge boost as he has started just once at Liverpool since his switch from Arsenal.
He is set to play on the right of an attacking line-up as Southgate tries to get the win which will book England’s place in Russia with a game to spare.
Southgate said: “When we leave Wembley we want to be in Russia and with a chance to plot how this team moves forward.
“It’s a great game for us and the whole country will want to go to a World Cup.”
Harry Kane will lead the attack with Marcus Rashford wide, while there is also a recall for John Stones in defence.