Joe Gomez is set to start England’s opening Uefa Nations League match against Spain on Saturday with Luke Shaw also expected to be selected ahead of Danny Rose.

Gomez will be included as part of Gareth Southgate’s three-man defence with the England manager persisting with the 3-5-2 formation he used so effectively to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.

It is unclear who the Liverpool defender will replace in that back-line but given his preference to play on the right then it is expected to be Kyle Walker. Walker has expressed his desire to play at right-back or right wing-back but faces strong competition from his former Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Kieran Trippier.

Gomez did start on the left of the three – where Harry Maguire has been used – when he played in a friendly against Holland last spring before going off injured.

Gomez would have gone to Russia as part of Southgate’s squad had he not suffered the serious ankle injury which meant he missed the end of last season, including Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final.