Crucial Decisions Await England: Man City's Involvement and Southgate's Tactics in Focus

It's a year to go until the Euros, how far away is Gareth Southgate from his best team?

Tom Driscoll and Mark McAdam are currently in Malta reporting on England's upcoming qualification fixtures against Malta and North Macedonia. According to Driscoll, the core players for the Euro 2024 team are well-established, including Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane. These seven players are currently considered untouchable and it would be difficult for anyone to displace them in the next 12 months.

Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips are the ones under scrutiny as the upcoming season approaches. With their previous season not up to par, they cannot afford to repeat their mistakes. This means that their positions may be up for grabs if they do not secure moves elsewhere. In addition, the competition for the right back position is already intense, and it may only get more so if Southgate decides to follow the lead of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp by using an inverted full back. In terms of the front three, the question remains as to who will play alongside Kane and Saka. Marcus Rashford will be eager to prove himself as the top candidate, especially after being absent from several camps over the past two years.

Could we expect an experimental England side over the next week given the quality of opposition - or will Southgate go all guns blazing?

England's Unbeaten Streak So Far

Could we expect an experimental England side over the next week given the quality of opposition - or will Southgate go all guns blazing?

England's victories over Italy and Ukraine, considered as the two toughest opponents in the group, have been impressive. However, Gareth Southgate has not allowed his stars to rest just yet as the qualification job is not yet done. It will be interesting to see if Southgate will continue to deploy Trent Alexander Arnold and John Stones as inverted full backs, as he described it. Despite the seeming straightforwardness of their path, England must remain vigilant and focused in their upcoming matches.

Eberechi Eze could be a valuable addition to the England squad in the upcoming week. His versatility allows him to play in both midfield and as part of a front three. It remains to be seen if he will join Phillips and Declan Rice in the starting lineup against Malta. James Maddison, who had a promising debut against Ukraine, should also be given the opportunity to continue building on his performance.

How close are the Man City stars to being available for selection in this game?

Mark McAdam: "Considering Man City's recent treble-winning celebrations, it's unlikely that many players from their squad will feature in the game against Malta."

Mark McAdam believes that with so many players being linked to potential moves away from their current clubs, it's easier to name those who haven't. However, it may be an opportune time for Kalvin Phillips to gain some much-needed playing time, especially with the Euros less than a year away. While Southgate has always maintained that he will only select players who are playing regular first-team football, he may be willing to give those with fewer caps a chance to impress against Malta, ranked 172 in the world. We'll have to wait and see what Southgate reveals when he touches down on Thursday afternoon to speak to the media.

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Phillips, along with Gallagher and Mount, need to consider their playing time and potential moves as they aim to secure a spot on their respective national teams for the upcoming tournament in Germany. With Manchester United eyeing centre backs, Maguire's playing time may also be limited, making it crucial for him to explore other options if he wishes to make the trip.

The England manager was a little concerned about not having enough of his big players reporting for international duty in recent breaks, does this strong squad suggest the players are now listening?

The England team's camaraderie and dedication is evident in their recent training sessions. Despite injury and impending big moves, the players have rallied together in support. Even Bellingham, unable to play due to injury, still made the effort to attend training and receive treatment. The team's cohesion is a testament to the efforts of the backroom staff in creating a welcoming and enjoyable environment for all players.

Follow England's Euro Qualifiers against Malta on Friday and North Macedonia next Monday with our dedicated match blogs across We digital platforms.