England need a bit of Cheek to lift steady yeomen to a higher level

● Picking Palace ace is welcome sign that Southgate realises the need for flair

At the very least it can be said that Gareth Southgate has the World Cup squad he wants. He has not listened to sentiment. And he has shown with the inclusion of an uncapped 19-year-old in England’s third youngest squad that he is prepared to roll the dice.

That risk did not extend to another 19-year-old rookie, Borussia Dortmund dasher, Jadon Sancho, but the selection of Trent Alexanderarnold is a bold pick, as, too, is the punt on Ruben Loftuscheek, who was a late bleep on the England radar and has only two caps to his name.

It is clear what doesn’t work with England. The last 50 years have passed their own judgement on English yeoman talent. Southgate thinks it is time to inject something different. And Loftus-cheek offers that.

His performance against Germany at Wembley was hugely encouraging and enough to persuade Southgate of his potential. Though he limped off in his next engagement against Brazil, he was a huge part of Crystal Palace’s resurgence towards the end of the season.

Gary Neville said of the generation that reached the quarter-finals at successive World Cup and Euro Championships that it was a fair measure of England’s talent. In other words their capabilities at major championships are overstated, or too much is expected.

What Beckham, Gerrard, Ray Wilson, a World Cup winner with England in 1966, has died aged 83, his former clubs Huddersfield and Everton have announced.

Wilson had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2004.

“Huddersfield Town is devastated to learn of the passing of World Cup winner Ramon ‘Ray’ Wilson MBE at the age of 83,” read a club statement.

“Ray is arguably the most successful and best-known

0 Ruben Loftus-cheek impressed England boss Gareth Southgate during the November friendly against Germany at Wembley. player ever to pull on a Huddersfield Town shirt, having been a key member of England’s World Cup-winning team in 1966.”

Wilson, pictured, made his England debut in 1960 and went on to win 63 caps for his country, 30 of those as a Huddersfield player. He joined Everton in 1964 and reached the pinnacle of his career in the summer of 1966 as part of Sir Alf Ramsey’s England team which beat West Germany 4-2 in the World Cup final at Wembley.

Huddersfield’s statement added: “The thoughts of everyone at Huddersfield Town are with Ray’s wife Pat, his sons Russ and Neil and the rest of his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Wilson, who remains Huddersfield’s most-capped England player, made 283 appearances for the club between choice but he has not been at his best this season, and will have to fight off Loftus-cheek for a starting berth. English football has a long distrust of the flair player. Alan Hudson, Tony Currie, Frank Worthington, Stan Bowles, Duncan Mckenzie all woefully underutilised. Glenn Hoddle won only 53 caps. So backing Loftus-cheek on what remains scant evidence might just be the lucky dip that makes a difference in Russia.

Danny Welbeck’s inclusion is the source of some mirth with plenty of Arsenal fans pointing out he is not first choice for his club. That reflects the general downgrading of international football in the era of the uber clubs made up of global talent financed by sovereign wealth funds. Welbeck does not look out of place in the England context, delivering a consistent 1952 and 1964 and a further 154 for Everton before he joined Oldham in 1969. “Everton Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ray Wilson,” read a statement on their official website. “Wilson’s status as a Goodison Park great was underlined when he was named Everton Giant for 2002.”

Wilson featured in a formidable back four for England level of performance that Southgate knows he can trust. Welbeck is going to Russia not to start games but to frighten tired defences late in matches, vying with Jamie Vardy for the role of super sub.

Neither Jack Wilshere nor Joe Hart have reason to complain. Wilshere might have been the player of his generation but ultimately proved too fragile. Hart has simply had his time. Southgate rejected the experience argument in support of Hart, preferring instead to select Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and Nick Pope on merit.

There is a degree of innovation too with the selection of players who are comfortable in more than one role, for example the deployment of Kyle Walker on the right hand side of a back-three instead of at full-back.

Former England defender and World Cup winner Wilson dies aged 83

when they became world champions in 1966, lining up at left-back alongside fellow defenders Bobby Moore, Jack Charlton and George Cohen.

Captain Moore, who died of cancer in 1993, was a big admirer of his former teammate.

“It was a comfort to play alongside him,” Moore once said. “He was a fiery little fellow, who would stand up to all the pressure. He always looked good.” making 32 appearances for Jurgen Klopp, and has been an integral part of Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final. He is expected to start against Real Madrid in Kiev in nine days before flying out with the England squad to their training base in Repino on 12 June.

“The first call-up for Trent Alexander-arnold is well deserved,” Southgate said. “When we pick young players, it’s not just because they are young, it’s because their performances deserve it.

“It is a young group but with some really important senior players, so I feel the balance is good, both in terms of its experience, its character and also the positional balance.”

Other young players including Ruben Loftuscheek and Marcus Rashford were also included. But, as expected, goalkeeper Joe Hart and midfielder Jack Wilshere were the biggest names to miss out, while Southampton leftback Ryan Bertrand also did not make the cut.

Wilshere has made a strong return to fitness and form in the past season, but was unable to prove to Southgate his body would hold up for the tournament. Southgate recalled him for friendlies against Holland and Italy, but Wilshere was forced to withdraw on the eve of the first match with a minor knee problem.

Leaving out Hart and Bertrand, Southgate said: “Both calls were really tough. They’re both good guys and have contributed a lot throughout qualification, so it wasn’t an enjoyable part of the job and I feel it’s important to acknowledge their contribution in getting us to Russia.

“With Joe, we’ve got three other goalkeepers who have had very good seasons and the decision I was faced with was do I keep Joe in and have experience around the group or give the three guys who have basically had a better season a chance?

“We felt the players all needed to be in on merit after their performances this season.

“Ryan is also very unfortunate in that it’s probably one of the strongest positions we have. I just felt the others were ahead of him.”