Gareth Southgate is slowly whittling down the options for his 26-man squad for Qatar and, in keeping with the manager’s pragmatic approach, there are expected to be few surprises (if any).
In fact, we reckon that 17 names are almost guaranteed. Three more players are as good as on the plane, injury permitting, with as few as five positions up for grabs going into the final Premier League games before the World Cup.
Here’s how we see England’s World Cup squad shaping up. You can also pick your own squad in the widget below. Feel there's any wildcard options that should be discussed? Have your say in the comments below.
Seventeen players already on the plane
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford ( Everton ), Aaron Ramsdale ( Arsenal ), Nick Pope ( Newcastle )
Defenders: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Eric Dier ( Tottenham ), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd)
Midfielders: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Declan Rice ( West Ham ), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Mason Mount ( Chelsea ), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City)
Attackers: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd)
Three players at the boarding gate
Trent Alexander Arnold (LIverpool), Conor Coady (Everton on loan from Wolves), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Omitted from Southgate’s squad for the Nations League games against Italy and Germany, Alexander Arnold has been handed a World Cup lifeline thanks to a knee injury to Reece James. The Chelsea right-back has not ruled himself out of being fit for Qatar and has flown out to Dubai in an attempt to speed up his rehabilitation. However, an initial eight-week assessment would point to him not being fit until the first week in December at the earliest.
Coady has been a part of the England set-up since August 2020 and although he has only made ten appearances, he appears to have the ‘don’t rock the boat if you’re not involved’ role nailed down, having been hailed for his dressing room influence. Was on the bench throughout Euro 2020 without making a single appearance.
Henderson was missing from the original squad for England’s most recent games. However, Southgate was keen to say he was rested rather than dropped. The Liverpool man was back in before the international break was over, coming into the squad to replace Kalvin Phillips who was suffering from a shoulder injury. Has made 42 of his 70 England appearances under Southgate.
Six players checking in
Ben White (Arsenal), Kyle Walker (Man City), Jadon Sancho (Man Utd), Ivan Toney, (Brentford), Tammy Abraham (Roma), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea)
Another player set to benefit from James’ injury is Ben White , who has been thrust back into the international conversation as a result of Arsenal’s surge to the top of the Premier League. He was left out of the squad for the most recent Nations League encounters but offers the versatility that Southgate craves, with an ability to play anywhere across the back line and even in midfield.
Walker would be guaranteed a place in the squad were it not for his recent groin surgery. A renowned quick healer, his match fitness will be lacking when the tournament comes around. His reliance on pace will provide plenty of anxiety when he hits top speed but it’s hard to see Southgate overlooking him even if not 100%.
Offering pace on the flanks, if not reliability, Sancho was deemed unlucky not to make Southgate’s latest squad after starting the campaign impressively with Manchester United. Has still to hit the heights of his breakthrough at Borussia Dortmund but with potential rivals Jarrod Bowen and Jesse Lingard struggling for form, he could be closing in on Qatar.
Any other players you feel should be a guaranteed pick? Have your say in the comments below.
Toney earned his first squad call-up on the back of a rich vein of goalscoring form at the start of the season. Eight goals in his first ten Brentford appearances looked to have catapulted him to the head of strikers battling to understudy Harry Kane. Three blanks and a subsequent suspension for reaching five bookings have stymied his World Cup bid somewhat but he will be hoping he has already done enough.
Abraham , meanwhile, is reliant on his 2021/22 form after struggling for goals this season. The Roma striker has netted just two in 11 for Jose Mourinho ’s side as he finds himself playing second fiddle to Paulo Dybala. Nevertheless, 17 goals in Serie A last season prove he can cut it at a high level.
Chilwell would be considered on the plane but a hamstring injury sustained earlier this month for Chelsea has cast a major doubt over his participation in the tournament.
Waiting in the airport car park
Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), James Maddison (Leicester), Callum Wilson (Newcastle), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
Guehi was handed his England debut by Southgate in March but hasn’t played since the 4-0 summer drubbing at the hands of Hungary.
An ever-present for AC Milan this season, Tomori was included in the squad for the Nations League encounters with Italy and Germany but failed to feature. Just two appearances since his England debut against Kosovo in 2019 suggest Southgate has plenty more preferred options at centre-back.
Sixteen appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this season suggest Ruben Loftus-Cheek may finally be establishing himself as a first-team player at Stamford Bridge. However, his chances of doing the same with England look pretty slim with the defensive midfield options already well taken care of, even allowing for the probable absence of Kalvin Phillips.
Ward-Prowse has featured in every minute of Southampton ’s Premier League campaign and was again part of Southgate’s squad for the latest set of internationals. Being cut from the final matchday squad for the draw with Germany doesn’t augur well, though.
Maddison has built an impressive array of admirers in his bid to force his way into the England set-up. The Leicester City midfielder has scored six goals and provided two assists despite the Foxes’ struggles this term. Unfortunately, Southgate appears immune to his charms, having failed to name him in an England squad since 2019.
Wilson ’s two goals in Newcastle’s second-half demolition of Aston Villa were certainly timely given Southgate’s attendance. It took the striker’s tally to six goals for the campaign. However, with injuries just as likely around the corner as goals, the 30-year-old looks an unlikely World Cup pick, despite Alan Shearer championing his cause.
Four Nations League appearances for Bowen in the summer were just reward for a fine 2021/22 Premier League campaign which yielded 12 goals and 12 assists. Sadly, Bowen has gone off the boil at just the wrong time, with his struggles mirroring those of his club side. Another to be left out of the matchday squad for the 3-3 draw with Germany.
