New England manager Lee Carsley will name his first starting lineup this Saturday when the Three Lions travel to Ireland in the UEFA Nations League.
The former Under-21s boss has replaced Gareth Southgate for the time being and faces his first test in the form of an old foe in Dublin. The Euro 2024 finalists will be participating in League B of the Nations League after being relegated from League A during the 2022/23 edition of Europe’s newest international competition.
Carsley has made some interesting decisions within his first squad, with a number of uncapped players potentially earning their first minutes for the senior side. How much the former Everton midfielder leans on Southgate’s favourites will be interesting to see.
Here is how England could line up at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday.
GK: Jordan Pickford – The Everton stopper was always Southgate’s first-choice and that’s unlikely to change under new management. He’s earned his spot as the nation’s number one between the sticks.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – With Kyle Walker and Reece James absent, Alexander-Arnold should feature ahead of Tino Livramento and Rico Lewis. Carsley has already revealed that right-back is where he plans to use the Liverpool maestro.
CB: John Stones – The Manchester City defender was one of the standout England players at Euro 2024 and remains the Three Lions’ best centre-back when in full flight.
CB: Marc Guehi – Harry Maguire’s return to the squad does threaten Guehi’s spot but the Crystal Palace man was so impressive at Euro 2024 that he surely has enough credit in the bank to start this weekend.
LB: Levi Colwill – With Luke Shaw injured and Ben Chilwell exiled at Chelsea, Blues defender Colwill may have to step in at left-back. While a centre-back by trade, the young defender, who starred for Carsley en route to England’s Under-21s’ Euros victory in 2023, is comfortable on the left.
DM: Kobbie Mainoo – The future of England’s midfield is bright and one of the main reasons is Mainoo. The balanced and mature teenager was key at Euro 2024 and should have nailed a spot as Declan Rice’s midfield partner.
DM: Declan Rice – An ever-present for Southgate’s England, the same is likely to be true of Carsley’s England. He remains the Three Lions’ main defensive presence in the centre of the pitch.
RW: Bukayo Saka – Twice named England Player of the Year, nobody has been able to usurp the exceptional Arsenal forward on the right-hand side of a fearsome front line.
AM: Eberechi Eze – With Jude Bellingham injured and Cole Palmer and Phil Foden withdrawing from the squad, Eze is a shoo-in to start this weekend as a number 10. It’s a role he thrives in at Selhurst Park.
LW: Jack Grealish – The Man City man missed this summer’s trip to Germany but has made a return to the squad for September. He certainly offers England something unique with his dribbling ability.
ST: Harry Kane – England’s skipper faced his fair share of criticism at Euro 2024 but remains integral for his country. The nation’s record goalscorer will want to take advantage of any indecision in Ireland’s backline in Dublin to increase his tally.
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