FA concern over Solanke
THE FA are anxious about Dominic Solanke’s progress with his lack of game time at Liverpool potentially damaging his international ambitions. Solanke is held in high regard by the FA and was player of the tournament when the Under 20s won the World Cup in June 2017. He was also a crucial figure for the Under 21s last season, scoring goals against Ukraine that have put Aidy Boothroyd’s side on brink of qualifying for Euro 2019. A sign of the esteem in which Gareth Southgate holds Solanke was shown on Tuesday at St George’s Park when the 20-year-old trained with the senior squad, but there is no guarantee he will start for the Under 21s tonight when they face Holland at Carrow Road. He has not been included in any of Liverpool’s four match-day squads so far and that means his position as a guaranteed starter for the Under 21s is now vulnerable, given that Leicester’s in-form James Maddison is applying pressure to start in the No 10 role. Mason Mount is also pushing hard for inclusion, having played in all but 15 minutes of Derby County’s seven league and cup games. ‘I’m really pleased with Dom but I’m also a little bit worried about him because he is not getting the minutes and not getting the games,’ said Boothroyd, whose side will effectively win Group 4 tonight if they beat Holland. ‘I am happy on the pitch picking the best players, but for the good of England and for the good of British football it would be nicer if we had more players playing, certainly better for us and for them. Our players have proved they can do it at international level. ‘But not as many of them as there should be are getting the opportunity to do that in the Premier League.’
ENGLAND (possible, 4-2-3-1): Gunn: Kenny, Fry, Tomori, Chilwell; Cook, Onomah; Gray, Maddison, Mount; Calvert-Lewin.
LIVERPOOL’S Adam Lallana is confident he will be fit again later this month following his withdrawal from the England squad. A scan revealed he suffered only a minor groin strain while training on Tuesday. ‘I’ll be back available for Liverpool, both domestically and in the Champions League, during September,’ the 30-yearold told liverpoolfc.com.