England competition both a comfort and concern as Gareth Southgate faces selection dilemmas

England calling: youngster Jude Bellingham is set to earn his second call-up after impressing at Dortmund
AP
Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP16 March 2021

As Gareth Southgate prepares to name his latest squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, the England manager is still facing selection headaches across the pitch.

With 89 days until England start their European Championship bid, only Raheem Sterling, Jordan Pickford, Jordan Henderson, Harry Maguire and Harry Kane feel nailed-on to start against Croatia at Wembley on June 13.

Southgate will likely include Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Phil Foden, too, but even they are not guaranteed, considering the depth of talent in forward areas.

The fierce competition for places elsewhere is both a comfort and a concern ahead of this month’s qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland — the last competitive matches before Southgate names his 23-man squad for the finals.

And his task in naming a group on Thursday, which will be made up of 25 to 30 players, has been made more complicated by a number of injury doubts. Jack Grealish has not played since mid-February but is hoping to return this weekend, while James Maddison is also injured, which may prove the end of his hopes of forcing his way into Southgate’s thinking.

Their absence paves the way for Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, who was forced off against Tottenham on Sunday with a tight hamstring, to be included as a forward, having impressed at left wing-back in the autumn. Competition for Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell is therefore set to come from the revitalised Luke Shaw, who is in line for a recall.

Liverpool skipper Henderson is another injury absentee, but Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham is set to be handed his second senior call-up, with the 17-year-old increasingly looking like a safe bet to be the wildcard in England’s Euros squad.

Kalvin Philips, James Ward-Prowse and Tottenham’s Harry Winks will also be hoping for call-ups and the chance to impress alongside West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.

Injuries to James Justin and Tariq Lamptey have ruled them out until next season, but Southgate remains overloaded with quality at right-back, and Chelsea’s Reece James is set to make the cut again after being excluded from the Under-21 squad.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker are also expected to be named, leaving Aaron Wan-Bissaka potentially overlooked again.

Everton v Burnley - Premier League - Goodison Park
Injury worry: Jordan Pickford was forced off before half-time last weekend
PA

Southgate is sweating over Pickford’s fitness and if the England No1 is ruled out, Nick Pope and Dean Henderson will battle it out for minutes between the sticks, with West Brom’s Sam Johnstone likely to come into the squad.

Centre-half John Stones can count on a recall and Fikayo Tomori will be hoping for the same after impressing on loan at AC Milan from Chelsea.

Southgate has reportedly watched Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, but Eric Dier will be concerned over his place after losing his way at Spurs.

There is also the question of Kane’s understudy. Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains in pole position, especially with Danny Ings injured and Tammy Abraham both out of favour and struggling with an ankle injury at Chelsea.

Patrick Bamford was forced off for Leeds at the weekend, which could put paid to his hopes of a first call-up, but the door may be open for Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

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