England's Striking Dilemma: The Quest for Harry Kane's Successor and Jarrod Bowen's Spotlight

Nketiah and Watkins to get an England chance

Taking chances is the name of the game for strikers - one of Ollie Watkins and Eddie Nketiah will feel that extra hard on Friday night.

In a unique chance for someone other than Harry Kane, one of the two strikers will have the opportunity to take charge in leading England's frontline during Friday night's friendly against Australia.

Both players have been selected due to their resemblance to Kane. Watkins excels in creating opportunities rather than scoring goals, whereas Nketiah's proficiency is demonstrated by netting twice from only three shots on target.

Kane surpasses both the Arsenal and Aston Villa forwards in terms of their individual strengths. However, it is impossible for either Nketiah or Watkins to replace the Bayern Munich striker in the striker position.

However, the impending question of England's fate in the event of Kane getting injured will constantly loom over Gareth Southgate. Hence, the significance of Friday's friendly against Australia lies in identifying the alternative that offers the greatest potential to the England manager. Considering the availability of Ivan Toney and Callum Wilson as options for Southgate in the upcoming year, it presents a challenging decision.

Bowen's big chance as Sterling overlooked again

The Enigma of Raheem Sterling's Position in Gareth Southgate's Squad

After being left out of Southgate's squad for this week's internationals, Sterling vented his frustrations on Vincent Kompany, his former teammate at Manchester City, as well as Burnley. He played a crucial role in all four of Chelsea's goals, even managing to score one himself, helping his team secure a remarkable 4-1 comeback victory.

Despite playing a key role for England in the previous World Cup, Sterling has not represented his country since then. While his absence in March was due to fitness concerns, he voluntarily opted out in June to fully recover and regain his top form. However, Southgate has now made the decision to exclude him from the last two squads.

In football, it's a common occurrence for one player's loss to be another player's gain. In this case, Saka's position as a starter is practically assured unless he gets injured. However, West Ham's Jarrod Bowen now has the opportunity to make a case for himself as Saka's backup.

Similarly to Sterling, Bowen was not considered for the September internationals. However, his impressive performance in recent games made it impossible to disregard him.

Expressing his opinion, manager David Moyes declared last month, after Bowen scored his fifth goal of the season against Sheffield United, "Although I am not the one selecting the England team, it is crucial to be capable of scoring in significant matches to represent England. Jarrod's contributions to our team are exceptional."

Fresh from signing a new seven-year contract at the Hammers until summer 2030, Bowen - who earned four caps last year - must seize his opportunity.Ben Grounds

Will Colwill solve England's left-back conundrum?

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Last week, England manager Gareth Southgate expressed the need to learn more about a couple of players for the left-back position, as the depth in the league is not strong. One player who has stood out for Chelsea this season in that role is Levi Colwill.

Manchester United's Luke Shaw has been out of action since August 19, and with Chelsea's Ben Chilwell also sidelined with a hamstring injury until December, it seemed natural for him to step in. Unfortunately, Rico Henry, a key player for Brentford, would have been a potential replacement, but he has also suffered a season-ending knee injury.

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Levi Colwill seems to be the most promising candidate to resolve Southgate's left-back issue among the players selected for the forthcoming international matches against Australia and Italy. While Kieran Trippier has occasionally filled in on the left, it is Colwill from Chelsea who appears to be the frontrunner.

The 20-year-old has not yet made his senior debut for the English national team, but he has been filling in at left-back for the Blues in the absence of... you guessed it: Ben Chilwell. Fate can be quite amusing.

Prior to this season, Colwill had briefly played in that position during his loan spell at Brighton in the second Premier League game last year, as well as twice while on loan at Huddersfield during the 2021/22 season. Now, he may have the opportunity to showcase his skills on the global stage.

"We have a strong admiration for Levi," Southgate expressed during his press briefing. "He had an exceptional performance last season with Brighton, an impressive display at the Euros with our U21 team, and he is swiftly adjusting back into life at Chelsea. His gameplay reflects a remarkable level of maturity. We hold great optimism for his future."

He earnestly anticipates that Colwill will enlighten him about his various potential alternatives. Dan Long.

Will Trent impress in midfield again?

According to the official website of England, Trent Alexander-Arnold is categorized as a midfielder. This information reveals Gareth Southgate's current perspective on the talented 25-year-old.

Renowned as the country's most innovative defender for quite some time, Alexander-Arnold underwent a transformation in his position at Liverpool in April. He was suddenly propelled into a fresh hybrid role, redefining his gameplay. Remarkably, this alteration has also extended to his international career.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold's passing for Liverpool since his move into a hybrid role

For much of Southgate's time as manager, Alexander-Arnold played a peripheral role. However, in June his performances in midfield for England received widespread acclaim. He scored a remarkable goal in a 4-0 victory against Malta and then delivered a superb assist in a 7-0 demolition of North Macedonia just three days later.

"This summer, he demonstrated exactly what we believed he was capable of," stated Southgate. The question that remains is whether the England manager views Alexander-Arnold as a permanent fixture in the central midfield position.

Does Southgate have a problem with playing time?

Gareth Southgate is not taking many risks with his England selections. However, a slight deviation from this approach can be seen with the inclusion of Alexander-Arnold, who missed England's September fixtures due to injury. Nevertheless, Southgate has immediately brought him back into the squad for this month's matches, indicating the importance and value he places on the talented player. By granting Alexander-Arnold back-to-back midfield starts against Australia and Italy, Southgate aims to provide further clarity on his position within the England team. These opportunities can greatly contribute to defining Alexander-Arnold's role, showcasing his capabilities and solidifying his status in the squad. With Southgate's tenure potentially coming to an end after the upcoming tournament, his cautious yet determined choices are to be expected.

He has chosen a handful of reliable individuals whom he will support unconditionally, regardless of their affiliation with the club. Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips are the standout duo.

Maguire made his season debut as a starter for Manchester United in their game against Brentford last Saturday.

In contrast, Phillips has only been given two starting opportunities during his two seasons with Manchester City. In the absence of the suspended Rodri, Pep Guardiola opted for Bernardo Silva, an offensive midfielder, and Rico Lewis, an 18-year-old defender, to provide coverage against Arsenal instead of Phillips.

However, Southgate's trust in these players remains steadfast due to their commendable performances on the grandest platform. Maguire has consistently proven himself in the last three prestigious tournaments, while Phillips showcased his capabilities during the Euros. To date, none of the other contenders have managed to convince Southgate that they possess the resilience required to handle such immense pressure.

James Ward-Prowse is a clear contender for replacing Phillips. Despite his impressive six assists for his new club West Ham this season, Ward-Prowse was once again overlooked for the England national team. If he had made a move to a top-six club, his situation might have been more favorable.

Southgate appears to value players who have experience in high-stakes matches. The upcoming Euros in Germany could serve as his final opportunity to secure a major tournament victory. He acknowledges the importance of performing well under pressure. However, is he neglecting the significance of being match-fit? If Declan Rice were to sustain an injury, would it be justifiable to depend on Phillips in a crucial game during the Euros? These are the subtle factors that may ultimately define Southgate's reputation and impact on the sport.