AS we enter the final international break before the 2022 World Cup commences in November, time is short for the players hoping to book a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the tournament in Qatar.
Here, we’ve picked out five players who are either uncapped or on the fringes of the Three Lions set-up who have a chance to squeeze into Southgate’s World Cup plans.
Ivan Toney
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has earned a first England call-up for this month’s Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany off the back of a thoroughly impressive two years with the Bees.
Toney scored 33 all-competitions goals the season Brentford earned promotion to the Premier League, and since Thomas Frank’s side’s arrival in the top flight the 26-year-old has continued to prove his pedigree.
✅ goals
✅ physicalityIvan Toney on what he thinks he can bring to the England team. pic.twitter.com/qJc3A8mNYi
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 20, 2022
A respectable tally of 12 league goals last term helped Brentford secure their top-flight status, and the former Newcastle United forward is on course to eclipse that tally in 2022-23, with five goals from his first seven games.
Toney has the technique to threaten goal from a variety of ranges and angles, but he shines also as a facilitator, whether acting as a target man to hold up the ball and link play, running the channels to create central space of others or utilising his deft touch and vision to carve a chance for a team-mate.
From League One to the Premier League, Toney has risen to the challenge of every jump up in level he has made thus far in his career. If he can do so in his expected international debut, a World Cup place could be on the table.
IVAN TONEY – FINAL SQUAD | 1/2
James Maddison
James Maddison’s omission from the latest England squad is likely a reflection of Leicester City’s poor start to the season. With just one point to their name after seven games, Brendan Rodgers’ side are bottom of the table and desperately under-performing relative to the level of talent within their squad.
But, on an individual level, Maddison is largely delivering, despite his team’s struggles. The 25-year-old playmaker has scored three goals and provided one assist, while also creating 2.2 chances per 90 minutes – an average better than current England attacking-midfield selects Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Mason Mount.
What’s more, aside from his most recent selection snub, Maddison has just one England cap to his name, and that came almost three years ago, via a substitute’s appearance in a European Championship qualifier against Montenegro.
This doesn’t show the class build up either, what a goal! #maddison pic.twitter.com/ZiRJO6xTX6
— Terry Flewers (@terryflewers) September 17, 2022
Last season, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling were the only current England players who bettered Maddison’s return of 12 Premier League goals. And his eight assists set a higher mark than perennial call-ups Saka, Sterling, Foden and Jack Grealish.
JAMES MADDISON FINAL SQUAD | 4/1
Eric Dier
After an absence of almost two years, centre-back Eric Dier has earned a recall into Southgate’s Three Lions squad for the upcoming Nations League games.
The Tottenham man’s return is well deserved. He has been one of the north-London club’s most improved players since Antonio Conte’s appointment nearly a year ago, displaying the kind of physical robustness, aerial prowess and on-ball quality at the heart of Spurs’ three-man backline that saw him catch the eye as a youngster at Sporting CP.
Tottenham have turned this game around and Eric Dier celebrates his England recall with a goal! ⚽ pic.twitter.com/XxAR14XEVS
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 17, 2022
And Dier’s recall could hardly be more timely, with the World Cup just a couple of months away. Southgate has plenty of options in central defence, but Dier offers familiarity and experience, having amassed 45 senior caps and played at two major tournaments, the versatility of being able to also play at full-back or in midfield – and invaluable trait in tournament football – and, at 28, he is hardly a busted flush.
ERIC DIER FINAL SQUAD | 1/2
Jadon Sancho
He is a regular starter for one of the biggest clubs in the world and has been regarded as one of the game’s most promising attacking talents since breaking through at Borussia Dortmund in his teens, yet Jadon Sancho is not assured of a place among the England squad.
Omitted from the latest selection, the Manchester United winger finds himself of the periphery of Southgate’s thoughts as the World Cup draws nearer.
#sancho goal for #ManchesterUnited 0-1 #SHEMUN pic.twitter.com/RLZaLTAkCx
— TomMUFC (@Tomufc20) September 15, 2022
Sancho endured a difficult first season at Old Trafford last term. Deposited into a side struggling desperately under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then Ralf Rangnick, the former Manchester City youngster faltered, returning just three Premier League goals and three assists.
Though yet to deliver on a consistent, game-to-game basis, Sancho’s form is much improved under new manager Erik ten Hag, and the versatile and tricky attacker has already scored three goals in just seven all-competitions starts this season.
More of the same – and in short order – will be required if he is to force his way back into the Three Lions set-up in time for the World Cup.
JADON SANCHO FINAL SQUAD | EVENS
Harvey Elliott
When it comes to selecting relatively inexperienced teenagers for major tournaments, England have history. From Michael Owen in 1998, to Wayne Rooney in 2004, to Bukayo Saka at Euro 2020 – some have shone, while others, such as Theo Walcott at the 2006 World Cup, have made little impact.
If Southgate wishes to tap into the fearlessness of youth at this winters’ World Cup, Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is the standout candidate.
The 19-year-old former Fulham star has made an impressive start to the current season, easing the burden of the Reds’ injury crisis by slotting into a midfield role deeper than that to which he is accustomed, yet instantly providing his typical inventiveness and industry.
https://twitter.com/emm_gram1/status/1570881811357790208?s=20&t=8mH0k1FzGUcAWB2–JlNNw
It would likely require injuries to players higher in the pecking order for Southgate to consider Elliott for World Cup selection, but the Liverpool teen has the talent and temperament to answer the call.
HARVEY ELLIOT FINAL SQUAD | 3/1
