Gareth Southgate is set to abandon his year-long experiment with a back three, returning to a back four for tonight’s Nations League game in Croatia.

England reached the semi-finals of the World Cup playing 3-5-2 but in Rijeka they will play with a 4-3-3 system, with Southgate opting to bring Kyle Walker, Eric Dier, Ross Barkley and Marcus Rashford into his side.

By dispensing with the extra centre-back, Southgate has allowed himself an extra forward player, meaning he will start Rashford and Raheem Sterling either side of Harry Kane up front. At the World Cup Southgate was left having to choose either Rashford or Sterling to partner Kane.

Southgate has also made two changes at full-back from the side that lost 2-1 to Spain last month. Walker replaces Kieran Trippier at full-back, returning to his preferred position after a year of frustration playing at centre-back. Walker played in the back three during the World Cup before losing his place there to Joe Gomez, but has now overtaken Trippier again. Ben Chilwell makes his first competitive start at left back.

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final against Sweden AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup TOPSHOT - Brazil's goalkeeper Alisson (R) players with his daughter Helena during a training session at the Yug Sport Stadium in Sochi, on July 3, 2018, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Brazil and Belgium on July 6. / AFP PHOTO / NELSON ALMEIDANELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images NELSON ALMEIDA AFP/Getty Images Best pictures of the World Cup England's coach Gareth Southgate (L) consoles England's defender Ashley Young after their semi-final loss Getty Images Best pictures of the World Cup Brazil's forward Neymar reacts at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup A Brazil fan cheers AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin embrace each other as they attend the gala-concert AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Croatia's players celebrate at the end of the penalty 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With no Dele Alli or Jesse Lingard in midfield, Southgate has brought in Dier and Barkley, the Chelsea man making his first England start since Roy Hodgson was manager more than two years ago.