Jadon Sancho was one of the most notable absentees from Thursday's England squad announcement, casting doubts as to whether he’ll be on the plane to Qatar in just two months' time.
Gareth Southgate named a 28-strong list of players who look to be leading the way for the World Cup, but those left out clearly have work to do between now and until the squad deadline on November 13.
After making his decision, Southgate made it clear that those who missed out, like Sancho, still had a shot of selection for the showpiece event in November: "There were certain players we wanted to keep involved this time," said Southgate on Thursday. "But that said, it doesn't mean that this is the end for some of the others who aren't involved."
