England manager Gareth Southgate not afraid to make big calls as he considers Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart roles

Gareth Southgate insists he is ready to drop England’s key players if necessary to keep their 2018 World Cup qualification bid on track.

The 46-year-old faces the first of four matches in temporary charge of England on Saturday when Malta visit Wembley as the squad look to move on from Sam Allardyce’s departure after just 67 days in charge.

Although England will expect to beat Malta — ranked 176 in the world by FIFA — they face a potentially tricky qualifier in Slovenia next week and Southgate must decide whether to persevere with captain Wayne Rooney after a drop in form.

Rooney has been a substitute in Manchester United’s last three matches and disappointed in a midfield role during Allardyce’s sole game in charge against Slovakia last month.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Joe Hart has endured mixed fortunes at Torino since being forced out of Manchester City by Pep Guardiola while Harry Kane’s absence through injury means there is a vacancy in attack with Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy and Marcus Rashford all vying for a chance.

Southgate, therefore, has several issues to address but believes his experience during three years with Middlesbrough and a further three seasons in charge of England’s Under-21s have prepared him for the challenges ahead.

“I think experience helps in these matters,” said the 46-year-old. “As a younger manager, you agonise that bit more. You have been through less of the situations. You are worrying a little bit more about the circumstances. But once you have been sacked, it puts a lot of things in context. ‘Am I going to worry about this as much?’

“You have to get the big ones right. You have to get the big calls right. And you have to treat the players respectfully, especially big players. But you have to make firm decisions. We have made firm decisions with the Under-21s over the last couple of years.

“I accept it’s not quite the same as some of the big senior players but the principles are the same. You have got to have a culture and an environment that people buy into.

“Then selection decisions are always a close call when you are dealing with this level because you are dealing with good players. You can’t keep everyone happy. Good players won’t be happy if they aren’t selected because they all want to play.”

Southgate drafted Michael Keane into the squad this morning after Glen Johnson withdrew through a minor knee injury. The Burnley defender played under Southgate at Under-21 level but is yet to make his senior debut.

The squad were set to train for the first time together under the new temporary manager at St George’s Park this afternoon.