Following last night’s lightening-paced and rather incredible developments, Gareth Southgate finds himself with a spate of huge decisions to make.
The FA have given the England U21s manager the nod to temporarily replace Sam Allardyce, who parted with the Three Lions hot seat by ‘mutual consent’ yesterday evening following a sting operation by The Telegraph.
Southgate is surely delighted with the opportunity to manage England for their next four fixtures, but with two coming in less than a fortnight, the 46-year-old doesn’t have much time to pick his first squad.
In fact, a squad announcement is expected on Sunday evening, leading to great debates over who’ll be brought in, who’ll be left out and who’ll get the captain’s armband.
With the clock already ticking, however, Southgate might feel compelled to stick with what he knows best – namely, England’s U21 side.
Creating a clear path between the Junior Lions and the senior side has become a key priority for the FA in recent years, something which could also influence’s Southgate’s selection policy.
With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at five stars from the U21 string England’s interim manager could include in his first Three Lions squad…
MARCUS RASHFORD
Let’s start with the obvious. Sam Allardyce left Marcus Rashford out of his first and only England squad and the Manchester United prodigy was quick to demonstrate what he’d overlooked, netting a hat-trick against Norway on his England U21s debut.
Combine some phenomenal form at club level, namely four goals in his last six appearances, with Harry Kane’s absence through injury and it seems inevitable the 18-year-old will be reinstated in the senior side for the coming international break.
JORDAN PICKFORD
Jordan Pickford has represented England at every age group from the U16s upwards and has picked up nine U21 caps since being issued his debut by Southgate in 2015.
With Jack Butland out injured and Joe Hart amid the most turbulent moment of his career, the timing could be right to bring another shot-stopper into the mix, even if Pickford is unlikely to pick up game-time in the coming qualifiers.
The 22-year-old has been in fantastic form for Sunderland this season, despite the Black Cats’ woes, registering 14 saves in four Premier League appearances.
JESSE LINGARD
Jesse Lingard may no longer be eligible to play at U21 level but was called upon frequently by Southgate after he took the job in 2013, notching up two goals and eleven caps for the Junior Lions – including one special goal against Sweden at the U21 European Championships.
Since, the hardworking winger has established himself as an important member of Manchester United’s squad, under both Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. He’s combined industry with a knack of scoring stunning goals to help secure wins in high-profile games – most notably last season’s FA Cup final and the 2016 Community Shield.
ROB HOLDING
Rob Holding was part of the U21 squad that won the Toulon Tournament earlier this summer and the highly-rated centre-back has since earned a summer move to Arsenal.
His first-team exposure has been limited thus far, with just two Premier League outings to date, but the 21-year-old was phenomenal for Bolton last season and clearly has a fan in Southgate – who issued Holding his first ever England caps at any level.
Likewise, centre-back isn’t exactly England’s most inspiring department at the moment. Some new blood at the heart of defence wouldn’t be a bad thing.
NATHAN REDMOND
Nathan Redmond has represented England a staggering 31 times at U21 level, the majority of his caps coming under Southgate. In fact, the Southampton winger earned a place in the 2015 U21 European Championship’s Team of the Tournament with the 46-year-old’s guidance.
Currently, England’s wide options aren’t the most inspiring beyond Raheem Sterling and Theo Walcott, with West Ham’s Michail Antonio the only other winger to make Sam Allardyce’s squad that faced Slovakia.
Southgate may elect to entrust an old ally in good form; the 22-year-old has been arguably Southampton’s best performer since arriving from Norwich City in the summer, averaging 3.2 shots, 2.7 created chances and two successful dribbles per match in the Premier League.
