Harry Maguire has been warned he is facing a new threat to his England place.
Manchester United defender Maguire has been an England regular despite falling down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag. However, England boss Gareth Southgate said a new generation coming through - including under-21s pair Levi Colwill and Taylor Harwood-Bellis - will make for greater competition.
Southgate said: “Harry’s shown great resilience and his performance level with us through the season has been very, very good. It’s been challenging for him, he’s captain of a huge, worldwide football club and he’s not been able to play so that would have been hard.
“We want competition for everybody, definitely. John Stones has had an outstanding season – probably since the World Cup to the end. It’s a reminder for all players who are having a difficult period because he was having one leading into the World Cup. So he’s finished strongly.
“We like Marc Guehi, we’ve invested in him. Him and Levi probably the two youngest in the league. For England future that’s good. Interested to see Harwood-Bellis in the Under 21s to see what might happen with him next year.
“Then Lewis Dunk and Tyrone had very good second parts of the season. So some competition there and we are very mindful of that.”
Meanwhile, Southgate has warned against taking qualification for granted.
The Three Lions face North Macedonia at Old Trafford and can take a major step to reaching Euro 2024 but England have not beaten their opponents on home shores, having shared two draws previously.
But Southgate warned England will face stiff competition at the Euros if they get there because of the strength of other nations.
Southgate said: “I think the first thing is to get there - don’t need to talk about what we need to do when we get there yet when we’ve got a big qualifier tomorrow.
“But in terms of the experiences we’ve got, the quality of the squad, our overarching aim is to be European champions and we should aspire to that. We shouldn’t take qualifying for granted. But when we get there it’s get out of the group and go from there.
“You have to channel those ambitions in the right way otherwise you lose focus. Not afraid to have big aspirations. Other countries definitely in that bracket – Croatia have just done a semi final on the back of a final, in another final now.
“They’re an incredible team. Portugal is very strong, France. I’d be surprised if France, Spain and Italy don’t evolve again. It will always be open but we should have strong belief in ourselves, without doubt.”
