It’s D-day as England squad is revealed
ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate will reveal his World Cup squad today having taken a final decision on the form and fitness of key players and those that made a late charge to be on the plane to Qatar, WRITES SIMON PEACH.
All eyes will be on the national team’s social media channels at 2pm as the 26-strong selection heading to the Gulf is announced before the Three Lions boss explains his choices to the media at St George’s Park.
England’s Group B opener will be only 11 days away when Southgate reveals his squad for a tournament that has been unceremoniously wedged into the middle of the season. The rapid turnaround before the side jets off to Doha next Tuesday means Southgate is unlikely to spring any major selection surprises, but some in-form players are pushing to return to the fold.
Marcus Rashford has not kicked a ball for England since missing his spot-kick in last year’s European Championship final penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy, with injury and poor form seeing him fall out of Southgate’s plans last term.
But the 25-year-old has been in resurgent form since Erik ten Hag’s arrival at Manchester United and is a strong contender to be named in the selection.
Southgate had looked set to call him up for the final camp before the World Cup in September until picking up an injury, and the national team boss admitted his familiarity with the set-up could boost his chances of a recall.
James Maddison’s fine form at Leicester has led to clamour for the attacking midfielder to be selected for the first time since winning his solitary cap in 2019, while striker Callum Wilson has caught the eye at Newcastle.
“It’s been a case of working hard to get back to the level where Southgate thinks I am good enough to contribute to the squad,” Wilson - who also has not been in an England squad since 2019 - told the Telegraph.
“I think I’ve done that and for once the timing is perfect with a big tournament coming up.”
Brentford striker Ivan Toney was called up by England for the first time in September but did not make his debut, while a hamstring issue may well extinguish Everton forward Dominic Calvert-lewin’s faint hopes of a recall. FIFA’S deadline for final confirmation of the squad is Monday and Southgate will be sweating watching the final round of Premier League fixtures.