Gareth Southgate is ready to gamble on fitness issues rather than surprise call-ups for his World Cup squad.
Southgate regards Manchester City pair Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips as integral to his England set-up which is why he has been prepared to give them every chance of making it to Qatar. But Southgate is determined not to make the same mistakes as previous England managers who gambled on taking half fit players to tournaments which perhaps best explains the exclusion of Reece James.
You can only take a punt on so many players especially with James still likely to be three weeks’ away from being fit again after his knee injury. But Southgate is likely to name a squad very similar to his last for the Nations League, although Marcus Rashford looks set to return and his versatility could mean heartbreak for Ivan Toney and possibly Callum Wilson.
It also seems unlikely that James Maddison will be in and it is worth remembering that England do not play with a No10 and they do have creative forces with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.
Would Foden and Grealish stand out in the Leicester team as much as Maddison? Of course they would. Defence has become a big issue and Arsenal ’s Ben White looks set to get a chance as a reward for his outstanding form this season. White would probably have got in last time but for a hip problem which he has been playing with at Arsenal but now looks back to full fitness and Mikel Arteta - understandably - did not want to admit that one of his players had a knock.
White can play at right back, right wing back back and in a back three and his versatility is appealing while Kieran Trippier can also play on either side and looks a certain starter. It could be a straight choice between Marc Guehi and Fikayo Tomori as the final centre half while Luke Shaw could be the only left back.
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Jude Bellingham should be the ace in the pack in midfield because of his form for Borussia Dortmund this season while there is a wealth of options in attack.
Raheem Sterling has been struggling at Chelsea but always steps up for England and then it could be a straight battle between Foden and Mason Mount to be on the other side but you cannot rule out Bukayo Saka who has enjoying an exceptional season.
There are genuine quality options throughout the squad and, while the defence remains a cause of concern, the forward line should be enough to carry England’s best hopes in Qatar.
England’s probable 26
Keepers (3): Pickford, Ramsdale, Pope
Defenders (10): Alexander-Arnold, Trippier, Walker, White, Maguire, Stones, Coady, Dier, Shaw, Tomori
Midfield (5): Bellingham, Henderson, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Phillips
Forwards (8): Foden, Sterling, Mount, Grealish, Saka, Kane, Abraham, Rashford
