Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has forced his way into England’s World Cup squad just five months after being dropped by Gareth Southgate.

The England manager said he did not “foresee a scenario” in which a number of his attacking players will not be in the final 23 for Russia – and also included Jesse Lingard, who has impressed in the last two friendly internationals, in that.

“I have a problem because I have Rashford, Sterling, Lingard, Kane, Oxlade, Vardy - so there is a huge choice and I have to make those choices,” Southgate said. “I don’t foresee a scenario where they don’t come to Russia but I am an England manager and I have to make those decisions.”

The same applies, Southgate explained, to Dele Alli even though he did not start against Holland – coming on as a substitute – or feature at all in the 1-1 draw against Italy at Wembley on Tuesday with Lingard and Raheem Sterling impressing. “There is no reason he (Alli) will not come (to the World Cup),” Southgate stated.

The return of Oxlade-Chamberlain, who started both games, is noteworthy given Southgate had left the 24 year-old out for the autumn friendlies against Germany and Brazil with the warning that he had to improve his club form, after his £35 million move from Arsenal to Liverpool, and was also unlikely to claim a place in his favoured position of central midfield.