Gareth’s sweating
GARETH SOUTHGATE faces an anxious wait to see whether England’s Nations League plans will be plunged into chaos.
The players report to St George’s Park today and will have a coronavirus test with up to SIX sweating on getting the all-clear having recently tested positive.
They will get the results back within 24 hours but the Football Association are bracing themselves for some potential drop-outs ahead of the trip to Iceland for Saturday’s match.
Southgate named his 24-man squad last week knowing several players had tested positive but they were all due to be clear by the time they report today. Government
guidelines are that they have to self-isolate for 10 days and get a negative test two days before being allowed to return to training so Southgate is confident they will be clear to play.
However, at least one player has had a positive test since then and England will face an anxious wait to see if he is in the clear while there are also injury concerns, including Marcus Rashford with an ankle problem.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexanderarnold has missed their pre-season preparations but the rightback is expected to report.
UEFA protocols mean
England’s players have already had a test and will have as many as four over the course over the two-game camp.
The problem has come after players went on summer holidays and, after the success of the Premier League’s strict protocols and testing procedures, they have returned with a raft of positive tests.
Southgate is set to deploy a three-man defence in at least one of the two next internationals as he has been left with a catalogue of selection dilemmas.
Call-ups for Conor Coady (right) and Ainsley Maitlandniles fit perfectly into that formation which served England so well in the 2018 World Cup, when they used three centrehalves and wing-backs.
Wolves captain Coady has been impressive as part of a back three for his club while Maitland-niles has been terrific at left wing-back.
Coady has surely deserved his chance before now but his absence must be down to him playing in a back three for Wolves while England have been using a conventional back four.
This will be the Three Lions’ first international since November and the Coronavirus pandemic plus injuries have left the squad decimated.