Joe Hart out, Trent Alexander-Arnold in? The 23 players who should go to the World Cup
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Updated 18/04/2018 at 10:36 GMT
England have run out of friendlies before they name their 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Russia, but events in the Premier League are giving Gareth Southgate a good steer.
Joe Hart of England warms up prior to the international friendly match between Netherlands and England
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On May 14, teams have to submit an initial provisional list to FIFA which can include up to 35 players. After that, England have one game, at home to Nigeria on June 2, before they would have to name their final squad for the tournament.
However, it is believed Southgate will have already named his 23 just after the end of the Premier League season. And recent performances in club games will surely have convinced Southgate to make a few tweaks to his squad selection.
GOALKEEPERS
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Stoke City's Peter Crouch scores their first goal as West Ham United's Joe Hart looks on
Image credit: Reuters
Joe Hart started all but one of England’s 10 World Cup qualifiers but a disastrous season at club level has left him fighting for his place with a talented new generation of shot-stoppers. A high-profile error leading to Peter Crouch's goal on Monday night well have made Southgate's mind up for him. Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford are assured of their places and with Nick Pope excelling for Burnley, as well as winning his first international call for the friendlies against Italy and Netherlands in March, it might be game over for Hart.
- On the plane: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
- Pushing hard: Joe Hart
- Outside chance: Tom Heaton, Ben Foster, Fraser Forster
DEFENDERS
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Kyle Walker chats with John Stones
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Southgate flitted between three and four at the back during the qualifying process but has settled on the former. The most interesting call from a defensive perspective during the March friendlies was the use of Kyle Walker as one of the back three, rather than at right wing-back. If Southgate continues with that experiment then England may consider bringing in more cover for Kieran Trippier and that could mean a call-up for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was exceptional in the Champions League victory over Manchester City and also demonstrated his superb delivery with an assist for Mo Salah against Bournemouth at the weekend.
Alfie Mawson's chances have nosedived after he failed to appear in either of the March friendlies and Danny Rose continues to struggle so Ashley Young is upgraded to 'on the plane' after his resurgence with Manchester United and England. Gary Cahill is back in the Chelsea team but still has some way to go to prove he merits an England call-up.
- On the plane: Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Ashley Young, Fabian Delph, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez
- Pushing hard: Danny Rose, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, James Tarkowski, Ryan Bertrand, Alfie Mawson
- Outside chance: Michael Keane, Luke Shaw, Nathaniel Clyne, Aaron Cresswell, Chris Smalling, Ben Gibson, Ben Mee
MIDFIELDERS
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Jack Wilshere speaks during an England press conference session
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A case has been made for Jonjo Shelvey of late but even if his form is recovering at Newcastle, Southgate hasn't shown much interest in using him before and will surely stick with what he knows at this point. That means Jack Wilshere is holding onto his place, but only just. The midfielder was unable to play in either March friendly due to injury but, while his form is mixed at Arsenal, he continues to get games. With 26 starts in all competitions, he has built a decent case. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is running out of time to force his way into the squad after struggling since that stunning display against Germany back in November.
- On the plane: Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Jesse Lingard
- Pushing hard: Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Lewis Cook, Jake Livermore
- Outside chance: Harry Winks, Nathaniel Chalobah, Ross Barkley, James Ward-Prowse, Phil Foden, Jonjo Shelvey
FORWARDS
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Arsenal's Danny Welbeck celebrates
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Danny Welbeck is the only one of the six forwards we have picked who is remotely at risk of not going to the World Cup, and he has solidified his position with five goals in his past six games for Arsenal. The only potential wild card could be Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon, who became the first ever player from outside the Premier League to be nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, but it would be a huge gamble on Southgate's part. We are also resisting the calls for the return of the big men after Andy Carroll and Peter Crouch both scored on Monday night.
- On the plane: Jamie Vardy, Dele Alli, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Danny Welbeck
- Outside chance: Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch, Daniel Sturridge, Tammy Abraham, Dom Solanke, Rhian Brewster, Jadon Sancho, Dominic Calvert-Lewis, Jermain Defoe, Theo Walcott, Ryan Sessegnon
OUR 23-MAN SQUAD FOR RUSSIA (AS THINGS STAND)
- Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
- Defenders: Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Ashley Young, Fabian Delph, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez
- Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Jesse Lingard
- Forwards: Jamie Vardy, Dele Alli, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Danny Welbeck
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