The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Sterling may be axed for game with Panama
Training ‘notes’ suggest England winger will be replaced by Rashford up front
Gareth Southgate is considering dropping Raheem Sterling against Panama, judging by a note spotted at England training.
After the Three Lions sealed a last-gasp 2-1 win against Tunisia in Monday’s World Cup opener, preparations are under way for Sunday’s game in Nizhny Novgorod.
England’s players returned from a recovery day with a full session yesterday morning, when focus on Southgate after he dislocated a shoulder running was usurped by a note carried by assistant manager Steve Holland.
It showed that the side are preparing to play in a 3-5-2 formation against Panama, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek in midfield following Dele Alli’s slight thigh strain.
The Tottenham man missed the session because of the injury he picked up against Tunisia.
But the most noteworthy aspect of the pictured piece of paper was Marcus Rashford, rather than Sterling, playing in the attacking two alongside captain Harry Kane.
Sterling, 23, has had to put up with a lot in the build-up to Russia and struggled to make an impact against Tunisia, with Southgate making the Manchester City forward his first change when bringing on Rashford in the 68th minute.
Sterling has not scored for England since October 2015 and, speaking after the game in Volgograd, the England manager said: “No (I am not concerned about that record).
“I think for Raheem, I was really pleased with the performance he gave.”
Whether the sheet is an intentional move to mislead or will indeed prove the starting line-up remains to be seen.
The Football Association declined to comment on the significance, or otherwise, of the shot.
Southgate took training at Spartak Zelenogorsk yesterday, despite the discomfort of a dislocated shoulder.
He took a tumble while running near England’s World Cup camp in Repino and was treated in a nearby hospital.
There was no sign of the black sling he had been pictured wearing on Wednesday.