GOING FOR GOALS

Southgate’s forwards are struggling to score so what better time to deliver than RIGHT NOW

GARETH SOUTHGATE has settled on his starting XI for England’s World Cup opener — but there is one big problem.

His forwards are prolific in the Premier League but seem to dry up in front of goal whenever they pull on the Three Lions shirt.

Raheem Sterling, who has not scored for England for a staggering 979 days, has managed just two goals in 38 caps...against Lithuania and Estonia.

Dele Alli’s last England goal came 615 days ago – back in October 2016 – when he scored against Malta. The highly-rated Tottenham star has scored just twice in 25 England appearances.

Jesse Lingard has just one goal to show for his 12 caps and, if it was not for Harry Kane, England’s goal shortage would be called a crisis.

Kane has a better than onein-two ratio with 13 goals in 24 caps and the England striker has enough confidence in himself to talk about winning the Golden Boot in Russia.

But in six group matches at the last two World Cups, England scored a total of just four goals.

Amazingly, Danny Welbeck is the top scorer in the current squad with 16 international goals yet the Arsenal striker is considered merely a squad player under manager Gareth Southgate (right).

Welbeck said: “Yes, someone mentioned it to me (that he is top scorer) but you just want to keep improving and keep on scoring and keep on playing for England.”

Welbeck believes pace is England’s most potent weapon in Russia.

“There are a lot of fast players in this squad and it’s nice to see,” he said. “Pace is one of our strengths and it’s something we’ll use.”

Marcus Rashford is ready to take his place on the bench against Tunisia in England’s opener on Monday after training for the first time yesterday following a knee problem. But Rashford will be an impact player at best for England at this tournament, with Southgate putting his faith in Alli, Sterling and Lingard, despite their lack of international goals, behind target-man Kane.

The manager believes the goals will flow for his team – Kane, Sterling, Alli and Lingard scored 91 goals at club level last season – but the starting XI he will very likely name on Monday night has NEVER played together before.