Team GB's Olympic squad: Predicting the 18 players heading to Tokyo 2020

England boss Phil Neville is tasked with picking just 18 players from four nations to head to Japan this summer, so who is in contention?

Phil Neville will make history this summer when he becomes just the second manager to take a women's football team to the Olympics for Team GB, granted the Games go ahead amid the worldwide coronavirus outbreak.

The manager has the unenviable task of choosing just 18 players from an extended pool of stars, with representatives of , and all competing with his Lionesses for a place on the panel.

Although the group is expected to be very England-heavy, there is no shortage of talent from around Great Britain, with Neville having already raved about those north of the border.

With preparations for the summer now well underway, Goal predicts who could be on that plane to come July.

Goalkeepers

Making the cut: Ellie Roebuck, Mary Earps

Other options: Carly Telford, Karen Bardsley, Sandy MacIver, Lee Alexander

Karen Bardsley has long been England's first-choice goalkeeper, but injuries have seen Ellie Roebuck, Mary Earps and Carly Telford all afforded more chances in her absence, with new Everton signing Sandy MacIver also called up recently. The main contender outside of England will be Scotland's Lee Alexander.

Roebuck has undeniably been the most in-form British 'keeper by some distance, conceding just six goals in the Women's Super League for current leaders , and is expected to be Neville's No.1. It then seems to be a battle between Earps and Telford for the second spot.

Speaking after he had announced his SheBelieves Cup squad, which included Telford rather than Earps, Neville said: "Ultimately, it was a choice between Telford and Earps because I was never going to take a keeper of that experience and not play them.

"I have explained to Mary that this is a one-off decision. It was a choice between which experienced keeper I would take to support the two young ones."

Defenders

Making the cut: Lucy Bronze, Steph Houghton, Leah Williamson, Millie Bright, Demi Stokes, Rachel Daly

Other options: Gemma Bonner, Aoife Mannion, Abbie McManus, Alex Greenwood, Jen Beattie, Lisa Evans

Lucy Bronze and Steph Houghton will be two of the first names on the plane, as the latter is Neville's England captain, while the former is the best right-back in the world. Bronze can also play in midfield, which represents invaluable versatility in such a small squad.

Rachel Daly will also be a strong contender for that very reason. Usually a striker or winger for Houston Dash, the 28-year-old started her career as a left-back and has regularly played right-back for England. Arsenal's Lisa Evans is a similar option, but Daly has been a favourite under Neville.

It's a toss-up between Demi Stokes or Alex Greenwood for first-choice left-back, and there could only be room for one in the squad.

As for centre-backs, Leah Williamson's superb form for Arsenal has led to Neville admitting that he simply can't leave her out anymore, with her, Houghton and Millie Bright regularly rotating in central defence.

There are lots of other options competing to break that trio. 's Abbie McManus, Arsenal's Jen Beattie, West Ham's Grace Fisk and City duo Gemma Bonner and Aoife Mannion are all in the mix, although the latter is currently recovering from an ACL injury.

Midfielders

Making the cut: Keira Walsh, Kim Little, Jill Scott, Jordan Nobbs, Georgia Stanway, Caroline Weir

Other options: Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle, Hayley Ladd, Rachel Furness, Lucy Staniforth, Fran Kirby

Neville's midfield choices depend on how he wants to set up Team GB. For England, his preferred set-up is a 4-2-3-1, and Keira Walsh and Jill Scott have long been the favoured pair deep in that midfield.

If he continues with that formation, Caroline Weir has also been earning high praise in a deeper role this season at Man City. The Scot offers versatility too, being able to play out wide, while she could bring a wicked left foot that few contenders have.

However, Neville also has the option of Wales' Sophie Ingle. Ingle has starred for as the sole holding midfielder in Emma Hayes' 4-1-3-2 formation and Neville could base his Team GB team around the Welsh star - something Hayes has called for him to do.

Playing Ingle on her own in front of the defence would also give the team more firepower going forward, and the chance to play two up front.

In the more advanced midfield role, Jordan Nobbs and Georgia Stanway have struggled to make their mark, with both requiring greater positional freedom. Lucy Staniforth has arguably been the best to play the position for England recently, but is further down the pecking order.

Arsenal skipper Kim Little can play in this position, as well as other midfield roles, and is expected to be on the plane, while Wales' Jess Fishlock, another world-class talent with a variety of dynamics, is certainly in contention - although she is just coming back from an ACL injury.

Forwards/wingers

Making the cut: Erin Cuthbert, Nikita Parris, Ellen White, Beth England

Other options: Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp, Toni Duggan, Jodie Taylor, Beth Mead

The Bronze Boot winner at last year's World Cup, Ellen White, will definitely travel. Beth England is also expected to go, with her 14 goals in 15 WSL games for Chelsea certainly helping her cause.

On the wings, Erin Cuthbert has been a consistent performer for Chelsea all season and, with her ability to play in a number of positions and her penchant for making something out of nothing, brings something different to the table.

Nikita Parris, meanwhile, has been excelling for in a central role in the absence of the injured Ada Hegerberg. The forward, who usually plays as a right winger for her country, has four goals in her last five games since switching positions.

A significant knee injury could hamper Beth Mead's chances, despite the Arsenal winger expected to be back before the season's end.

That could open to the door to one of Toni Duggan, Lauren Hemp or Chloe Kelly - the former offering experience, while the two youngsters have been in fine form this campaign to earn more regular call-ups with England.

How many of these options will make the plane is another factor, though, with players like Daly and Weir able to play out wide as well.