Gareth ready to take Swiss risk
GARETH SOUTHGATE is set to ring the changes against Switzerland even if it risks England suffering their worst ever run of results.
The England boss could decide to make up to nine changes for tomorrow night’s friendly in Leicester.
But if the plan backfires, the Three Lions could slump to four defeats on the trot for the first time in history.
England’s loss to Spain at Wembley on Saturday made it three in a row, which is their worst run of results since 1988.
Southgate’s men will face tough trips to Croatia and Spain next month when the UEFA Nations League campaign resumes.
He can ill-afford to go into those back-to back clashes following another loss, but remains determined to make wholesale changes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and
James Tarkowski are set to be recalled along with World Cup star Kyle Walker.
John Stones and Harry Kane are ®Êby JEREMY CROSS
expected to survive the cull, with Danny Welbeck, Fabian Delph, Eric Dier and Ruben Loftus-Cheek returning to the starting line-up.
Southgate has also drafted in Leicester duo Ben Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray from the Under-21 squad.
The England boss said: “We have to give the other players that haven’t played a start.
“There are a lot of players that haven’t had a game of football yet this year. They need football having come away for 10 days. “There are players that have a valid case for getting into the starting team. We need to see what they can do when they come into competitive games.
“So, I think, on this occasion, that’s the approach we have to take for Tuesday.” Luke Shaw will return to Manchester United today after suffering concussion when he was knocked out cold in a sickening clash with Spain’s Dani Carvajal.
It remains to be seen if he will be fit to play for United at Watford on Saturday.
FA and Premier League rules state players suffering concussion are not allowed to return for a competitive game for at least six days.