England are flying in Euro 2020 qualification, sitting top with 3 more points than Czechia, tonight's opponents, and having played 1 game less. A number of players - Fabian Delph, Tom Heaton and James Maddison - have withdrawn from the squad due to injury or illness so there's an opporunity for other players to put their names into Gareth Southgate's mind.
Below is who I think should start.
GOALKEEPER - Nick Pope (Burnley)
After Tom Heaton withdrew, Dean Henderson was callled up to the squad with Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope already included. Pickford is the supposed England no.1 but I think his time is up. He has considerably under performed since the World Cup and, in all honesty, I didn't particularly rate him before the tournament. He has made errors this season that a top class goalkeeper wouldn't make so another player should be given the chance - Nick Pope. I'd find it hard to pick any Everton player at the moment.
RIGHT BACK - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Kyle Walker was again left out of the squad and Aaron Wan-Bissaka has not recovered from an injury so Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier are the right backs in the squad. Both have enjoyed fantastic starts to the season with Alexander-Arnold continuing his stellar displays from last season and Trippier has found a new lease of life at Atletico Madrid. For me, Alexander-Arnold is the better player than Trippier so I think he should start.
CENTRE BACKS - Harry Maguire and Fikayo Tomori (Manchester United and Chelsea)
The central defenders in the squad are Joe Gomez, Michael Keane, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings and Fikayo Tomori. Keane is an Everton defender so doesn't deserve to play, there are better options than Mings and Gomez has found himself out of the Liverpool defence shouldn't be rewarded with a start. That leaves Maguire and Tomori. Maguire is the first England central defender on the team sheet and it really is up to the others to battle it out. I didn't expect Tomori to nail down a spot in the Chelsea defence as quickly as he has and he hasn't looked out of place. He has stated his commitment to England which is great to see.
LEFT BACK - Ben Chilwell (Leicester City)
Chilwell hasn't become England's no.1 left back by luck. He offers a threat down the left hand side and is also very adept at defending which certain modern full backs are not. Any other left back called up should expect to be behind Chilwell in the pecking order and that, for now, is Danny Rose.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD - Declan Rice (West Ham United)
The two more defensive minded midfielders in the squad, after Delph's withdrawal, are Declan Rice and Harry Winks. Henderson has played deeper in the past but he is now being utilised in a more advanced role. Rice and Winks are the the two main options for the holding midfield position and currently Rice is winning the battle. Winks' performances have come in for criticism recently but I genuinely think he is a good player, Tottenham are struggling at the moment which is effecting him. Rice has continually performed well and deserves to start.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD - Jordan Henderson and Mason Mount (Liverpool and Chelsea)
If James Maddison wasn't ill, then I would've picked him in the starting line up. In central midfield, a balance is required between a more athletic player and a playmaker. Henderson is the more athletic, box-to-box type and Mount is the more advanced one. There is an argument to say Southgate may change formation to 4-2-3-1 from 4-1-2-3 to play Mount higher up the pitch but he has used the latter to offer more defensive protection and I think Mount will play alongside Henderson and not in front.
RIGHT WING - Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
He scored his first international goals last time out and Sancho is just a brilliant player. He has all the potential to become one of the best in the world and has registered 11 goal contributions (4 goals and 7 assists) in as many game this season. It is frightening form and no one better than Sancho has shown players the benefits of leaving England in search of first team football to develop rapidly (take note Phil Foden).
LEFT WING - Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
He is a world class player and has now found confidence when playing for England. The 5-3-2 formation played him out of position up front but now he is in his natural role, he has excelled.
STRIKER - Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham may be going through a torrid time at the moment but Kane hasn't played horrendously. He is still scoring goals and as the striker, that is his job. There is an argument to say Tammy Abraham should play and it is a close one. I'd start Kane and bring Abraham on as a sub. Rashford should not even be in the equation as Wilson has been playing better than him.
England should win this one easily. 3-0. Kane with a penalty, Mount and Sterling.
GOALKEEPER - Nick Pope (Burnley)
After Tom Heaton withdrew, Dean Henderson was callled up to the squad with Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope already included. Pickford is the supposed England no.1 but I think his time is up. He has considerably under performed since the World Cup and, in all honesty, I didn't particularly rate him before the tournament. He has made errors this season that a top class goalkeeper wouldn't make so another player should be given the chance - Nick Pope. I'd find it hard to pick any Everton player at the moment.
RIGHT BACK - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Kyle Walker was again left out of the squad and Aaron Wan-Bissaka has not recovered from an injury so Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier are the right backs in the squad. Both have enjoyed fantastic starts to the season with Alexander-Arnold continuing his stellar displays from last season and Trippier has found a new lease of life at Atletico Madrid. For me, Alexander-Arnold is the better player than Trippier so I think he should start.
CENTRE BACKS - Harry Maguire and Fikayo Tomori (Manchester United and Chelsea)
The central defenders in the squad are Joe Gomez, Michael Keane, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings and Fikayo Tomori. Keane is an Everton defender so doesn't deserve to play, there are better options than Mings and Gomez has found himself out of the Liverpool defence shouldn't be rewarded with a start. That leaves Maguire and Tomori. Maguire is the first England central defender on the team sheet and it really is up to the others to battle it out. I didn't expect Tomori to nail down a spot in the Chelsea defence as quickly as he has and he hasn't looked out of place. He has stated his commitment to England which is great to see.
LEFT BACK - Ben Chilwell (Leicester City)
Chilwell hasn't become England's no.1 left back by luck. He offers a threat down the left hand side and is also very adept at defending which certain modern full backs are not. Any other left back called up should expect to be behind Chilwell in the pecking order and that, for now, is Danny Rose.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD - Declan Rice (West Ham United)
The two more defensive minded midfielders in the squad, after Delph's withdrawal, are Declan Rice and Harry Winks. Henderson has played deeper in the past but he is now being utilised in a more advanced role. Rice and Winks are the the two main options for the holding midfield position and currently Rice is winning the battle. Winks' performances have come in for criticism recently but I genuinely think he is a good player, Tottenham are struggling at the moment which is effecting him. Rice has continually performed well and deserves to start.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD - Jordan Henderson and Mason Mount (Liverpool and Chelsea)
If James Maddison wasn't ill, then I would've picked him in the starting line up. In central midfield, a balance is required between a more athletic player and a playmaker. Henderson is the more athletic, box-to-box type and Mount is the more advanced one. There is an argument to say Southgate may change formation to 4-2-3-1 from 4-1-2-3 to play Mount higher up the pitch but he has used the latter to offer more defensive protection and I think Mount will play alongside Henderson and not in front.
RIGHT WING - Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
He scored his first international goals last time out and Sancho is just a brilliant player. He has all the potential to become one of the best in the world and has registered 11 goal contributions (4 goals and 7 assists) in as many game this season. It is frightening form and no one better than Sancho has shown players the benefits of leaving England in search of first team football to develop rapidly (take note Phil Foden).
LEFT WING - Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
He is a world class player and has now found confidence when playing for England. The 5-3-2 formation played him out of position up front but now he is in his natural role, he has excelled.
STRIKER - Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham may be going through a torrid time at the moment but Kane hasn't played horrendously. He is still scoring goals and as the striker, that is his job. There is an argument to say Tammy Abraham should play and it is a close one. I'd start Kane and bring Abraham on as a sub. Rashford should not even be in the equation as Wilson has been playing better than him.
England should win this one easily. 3-0. Kane with a penalty, Mount and Sterling.
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