da dobrowin： With managerial calamities gone, there is still a squad of England players in line to actually play some real-life, functioning, possibly successful football. The players must be as bemused by everyone else by the goings-on of the last couple of months, from the appointment of Sam Allardyce to his humiliating departure.
da esoccer bet： The squad is now home to a few new faces, as it turns out. Several players have earned their place, while others have simply slotted in as a result of an injury or people ‘withdrawing’.
Gareth Southgate has a task on his hands. Well, he has a match against Malta. It isn’t exactly the gargantuan challenge most England managers have to face of winning every major tournament with a squad that barely warrants reaching the latter stages.
Easier qualifiers, like this one, are an opportunity to experiment and, crucially, give players a chance on the international stage to see if they can really slot into the England team’s style of play – whatever that is – and here are THREE deserving of a go at home to Malta…
Marcus Rashford
In the absence of Harry Kane, there is an open spot in England’s forward line. After dropping down to the U-21s, Rashford has returned to the senior England team and should be starting against Malta.
While Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge have not been at their respective bests so far this season, Rashford has forced his way into the first-team plans of Jose Mourinho despite the Manchester United manager’s reluctance to place faith in youth players. Rashford continues to light up the pitch with his fearless running and knack for finding the net and, as the sample size grows, he is becoming less of a flash in the pan.
A few goals against Malta will not make Rashford an international superstar, or the first choice striker, but if he is going to be a regular in the senior squad he has to be starting games.
Michael Keane
Called up as a replacement for one of the many ‘injured’ players, Michael Keane was unfortunate not to make the initial squad. His early season performances for Burnley have been amongst the best defensive displays in the league as he continues the form that saw him guide the Clarets to promotion last season.
With England unlikely to be under too much strain defensively, Keane deserves the opportunity to acclimatise to international football, settle into the team, get used to some new team-mates and remove some of the first-cap-nerves. England’s shortage of central defenders makes Keane’s inclusion a necessity.
Michail Antonio
Natural wide players, like central defenders, have been hard to find for England managers of late. With Jesse Lingard also competing for a place in the XI, Antonio may not be pencilled in to start against Malta, but there is no doubt that he is one of the form players in the squad that Southgate selected.
Just as comfortable in a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2, Antonio will naturally be left out should Southgate opt to field a diamond. Players who can contribute goals and stretch the pitch are a necessity in international football, particularly when facing sides who are looking to prevent rather than damage.
As England look to build a squad for the 2018 World Cup a player like Antonio will be extremely useful, whether from the bench or to start the game.