Keane, of Burnley, is to start alongside Cahill and Smalling in the England defence

Michael Keane is set to make his England debut against Germany tonight in a switch of formation that will see the Burnley defender line-up as one of three centre halves.

England trained today ahead of tonight’s friendly against the world champions in Dortmund, when Gareth Southgate put the finishes touches to his blueprint.

Jake Livermore, the West Bromwich Albion midfielder, is also in line to start against Joachim Löw’s side in midfield in what would be his first England appearance since his debut in a friendly against Italy in August 2012.

It is likely that Keane will start alongside captain Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling in a three-man rearguard as Southgate replicates the system which Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have used in the Premier League