From Jesse Lingard to Declan Rice, five England players who face a pivotal week for the Three Lions

This month's World Cup qualifiers give Gareth Southgate one final chance to get a look at his England squad before making his selection for the European Championship this summer.

The Three Lions squad has been hit hard by injury this month as players feel the impact of an almost non-existent pre-season and crammed schedule.

Such issues, and the spikes in form from those who have been absent from the international scene, have offered timely opportunities for some players to make a late run to feature this summer.

Here are five players who can make a statement this month...

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Southgate has made it abundantly clear that were it not for injuries to Jack Grealish and James Maddison, Jesse Lingard would not be in this squad. But he's there and has a fine chance in his hands.

After five goals and three assists in seven West Ham appearances since joining on loan in January, Lingard is playing with a smile once more and taking control of Premier League games.

Southgate was in attendance at Villa Park to watch his blistering debut for the Hammers in February and will have no concerns about calling on one of his stars of the 2018 World Cup.

Lingard is bursting with confidence and, if he can take that form from West Ham to Wembley, stands a great chance of making a late case for the Euros.

Southgate has always trusted the 28-year-old, meaning while Grealish may be hard to surpass, it is not hard to see him getting in ahead of Maddison.

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Another hero of Russia 2018 to have enjoyed a renaissance this season, John Stones is looking back to his best at Manchester City.

Solid at the back alongside Ruben Dias for the Premier League leaders, Southgate will be hoping Stones can bring some composure to a backline which has too often shot itself in the foot.

The former Everton man, who has not featured for England since late 2019, has been guilty of that himself in the past but looks a far more assured player now and can be a commanding presence at the back.

With Southgate set on a back three, the ability Stones possesses on the ball will be vital, too. A solid showing across these three games and a place in the starting XI this summer should be his.

England Training Session
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While all the focus at England level has been on the abundance of right-backs available to Southgate, Luke Shaw has suddenly emerged as perhaps the brightest full-back in the squad.

Southgate has experimented on the left-hand side over the last year. Kieran Trippier and Bukayo Saka have both been given games ahead Ben Chilwell, who had appeared the most obvious candidate.

Chilwell is in the squad but has been in and out of the side at Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, while Shaw has gone to another level at Manchester United.

Always solid at the back, the former Southampton man has become - after Bruno Fernandes - United's biggest threat going forward, something that will aid his efforts to take the wing-back spot for himself this summer.

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To that right-back spot, then. Trent Alexander-Arnold's omission from the squad came as a surprise to many, but will have been quite the boost to Chelsea's Reece James.

The 21-year-old is well thought of by Southgate, who held back criticism for James after he was sent off following the final whistle on his full Three Lions debut last year. James had impressed against Denmark and was shown a red for some naive behaviour, but it has done little to diminish his standing.

With Kyle Walker earmarked for the right side of the back three, James's main threat in this squad comes from Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier - a trusted player in the eyes of Southgate. James's pace and ability when it comes to crossing the ball - if he can put it on show this month - could edge him to the top of the list.

England Training Session
The FA via Getty Images

Just days after marking two years since his England debut, the West Ham midfielder suddenly finds himself as the most experienced player in his position in the squad with Jordan Henderson absent and Eric Dier set on playing at the back.

Rice has come a long way since making his debut. The 22-year-old has been marked out by Southgate as - alongside Mason Mount - one of the younger leaders in the group and has captained West Ham for the majority of the season under David Moyes.

The midfielder has developed significantly on the ball and, with Henderson out of the picture this month, faces a run of games in which he will have to step up to the plate and lead by example. Few expect he will not be up to the case, but this month could prove a significant one for Rice.

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