CHRIS SUTTON ON ENGLAND’S PLAN Bs

OPTION 1 GIVE CALLUM HIS CHANCE

STRIKER for striker. There have been a few England games in which Harry Kane did not start and generally, Gareth Southgate has gone with a like-for-like replacement. Against Italy, Tammy Abraham took his spot. Against Ivory Coast, it was Ollie Watkins. Against Andorra, it was Patrick Bamford. None of them are at this World Cup, but Callum Wilson is — and he was brought to Qatar so he could play in this very scenario. If Kane isn’t fit, Wilson is there to deputise. They’re different players, obviously — Kane is close to irreplaceable. But Wilson is fast and physical and has a good goalscoring instinct. He would be the obvious choice.

OPTION 3

FODEN’S THE FALSE NINE

SOUTHGATE is fortunate he has players who are versatile, giving him options if he wants to go in a different direction to a traditional centre forward. We have seen Phil Foden used as a false nine for Manchester City in the pre-Erling Haaland days, acting as a creative link between Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez. Kane likes to get involved in build-up and Foden isn’t bad at that himself. He’s tidy, he’s mobile, he knows when to drop deep and can make killer runs in behind the opposition back line. But it would be asking a lot of Foden to do this in a World Cup game. This would be a total wildcard for England.

OPTION 2 MOVE MARCUS INTO MIDDLE

WHEN Marcus Rashford came on against Iran, he was used in a wide role and scored after a lovely lay-off from Kane. That will have done wonders for Rashford’s confidence. He has been used as a centre forward for Manchester United but the 25-year-old has said playing off the left is his favourite position. Nevertheless, Rashford will do whatever Southgate asks of him. Hell, England’s manager could ask me to hand out the half-time oranges and I’d do so. Rashford is fast. If the USA push up the pitch, like they did in that first half against Wales, his pace could be useful. Rashford isn’t a bad option, but Wilson is the likelier choice.

OPTION 4 STERLING GOES CENTRAL

WHEN Kane didn’t start the 3-0 win over Ivory Coast in March, Raheem Sterling stood in as captain, took up central positions close to Watkins, assisted one and scored another. Like Foden, he has acted as a false nine in the past for Manchester City, so it wouldn’t be totally alien to him. Sterling’s Chelsea form has not been the best but he had a strong game against Iran and should start against the USA. If he is used as a false nine, as amazing as that decision would be, Foden could fill the gap on the left flank. But I can’t shake the sense that Wilson would feel undervalued to see this front three when he’s at this World Cup to be Kane’s Plan B.