The hopefuls who deserve a chance

Nick Pope

Injury to Tom Heaton threatened to derail Burnley’s campaign but stand-in keeper Nick Pope has been pivotal to their success this season, helping them achieve the fourth best defensive record in the division. The 25-year-old boasts the second best save success rate in the Premier League (77.5%) behind David de Gea (80.2%), with no other English keeper reaching 70%. Moreover, a clean sheet at West Ham last time out was his 10th of the season; Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and Joe Hart have managed just 15 between them.

James Tarkowski

When Burnley sold Michael Keane to Everton in the summer and didn’t reinvest any of the £25m they made on the deal on a replacement, it would have been easy to assume they would struggle to maintain their strong defensive resolve this season. But they have improved at the back, owing to excellent displays from James Tarkowski alongside the underrated Ben Mee.

Tarkowski has stood out the most, so much so that Poland are reportedly considering a call-up for the 25-year-old, whose committed performances have ensured that Burnley have conceded just 26 goals al season – 18 fewer than at this stage last season. Tarkowski leads the entire league for blocks per game (1.6) and he ranks third for clearances (7.4) and fifth for aerial duels won (5.1). Both he and Pope have earned a place in our Premier League team of the season so far.

James Tarkowski has been superb for Burnley this season. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Jamaal Lascelles

Another centre-back who has impressed this season, Jamaal Lascelles seems destined to captain Newcastle to top-flight survival after their 3-0 win over Southampton at the weekend. Like Tarkowski, he is strong in the air but he is more measured in his approach, preferring not to dive into tackles – conceding just 0.4 fouls per game this season – and to pass out from the back where possible. The 24-year-old has been a real leader under Rafa Benítez and carries a threat in the opposition box to boot, with eight league goals since the Spaniard took the reigns.

Ashley Young

With Danny Rose lacking match fitness and both Ryan Bertrand and Aaron Cresswell battling against relegation, the left-back spot could be up for grabs. Luke Shaw can’t get a kick at Manchester United and that is down to the form of Ashley Young, who has adapted to another new role superbly.

Young is now proving to be an aggressive and intelligent defender, all while still offering a threat going forwards with his delivery into the box. On current form the 32-year-old shouldn’t just make the cut, but be considered as England’s first choice. Having kept Mo Salah in check quite brilliantly at the weekend, he is now our fourth highest rated Englishman in the Premier League this season (7.26).

Ryan Sessegnon

Ryan Sessegnon’s versatility on the left flank could be a real asset. The 17-year-old is Fulham’s top scorer in the Championship this season with 14 goals, despite having started 19 of his 37 league matches at full-back.

Calling up a Championship player may be risky but on current form this Fulham side would make a real fist of things in the Premier League – and Sessegnon, who has started all of their league games this season, has been a pivotal part of their success. Beyond Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, England are not inundated with quality in wide areas and the youngster may be something of a wildcard.

Ryan Sessegnon has started every single league game for Fulham this season. Photograph: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Getty Images

James Maddison

England lack players who are match fit and in form but Norwich City’s James Maddison has neither of those concerns. The 21-year-old has been superb all season, with a direct hand in 18 league goals (12 goals and six assists) while operating behind a lone striker.

He has an eye for the spectacular from distance, keeps the ball well in advanced areas – with an 86.2% pass accuracy – and has created the most chances in the Championship this season (93). Agile and strong over a set piece, the playmaker has earned the sixth highest rating in the league this season (7.46) and should be under consideration from a coach who has promoted young talent but has not yet been bold enough to select players from outside the Premier League.

The regulars at risk of missing out

Gary Cahill and Joe Hart react to England’s defeat against Iceland at Euro 2016. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Gary Cahill

While he may have international experience on his side, Cahill’s performances this season point towards a decline that should concern Southgate. The 32-year-old has only started 18 of Chelsea’s 30 Premier League matches and they have fared far better without him, winning nine of the 12 he has missed (75%) compared to just eight (44.4%) of the 18 he has started. They have also conceded considerably fewer goals per game with him in the side – 0.58 compared to 1.11.

Jordan Henderson

Another club captain and holder of the England armband, Henderson has endured a frustrating season with regards to both form and fitness. The 27-year-old has also started just 18 league games, with just one goal and one assist to his name, while his figures for tackles, interceptions and pass accuracy have all dropped significantly from the previous campaign.

Joe Hart

There is just no justification for Hart – another former England skipper – to even come close to a call-up. He has the worst save success in the Premier League (54.9%), has conceded the most goals per game (2.2) and he committed another error at the weekend while Nick Pope stood tall at the opposite end.

Jake Livermore

While Livermore hasn’t let Southgate down in previous fixtures, the West Brom midfielder has done nothing at club level to suggest he warrants another call-up. In and out of an awful Baggies side in recent month owing to a lack of form on the pitch and discipline off it, the 28-year-old has done very little to help arrest the club’s slide into the Championship. He is the second lowest rated player (6.43) to have made 20 or more appearances in the Premier League this season.

Danny Welbeck

He may be a bit-part player at Arsenal – which is reason enough to miss out on the squad despite injury to Harry Kane – but Welbeck has been given enough minutes to make an impression since the turn of the year and has failed to do so. He has started seven of 12 appearances in 2018 and scored just once, in a 4-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest. The fact he is even under consideration having gone 10 games without a goal is symptomatic of the issues facing Southgate.

Danny Welbeck has gone 10 games without a goal for Arsenal. Photograph: Marc Atkins/Offside/Getty Images

Danny Rose

Rose made his first league start of the calendar year at the weekend but did little to convince Mauricio Pochettino he deserves another any time soon. Confessing that his fitness isn’t up to the standards expected at Tottenham, his struggles have been a blessing for Ben Davies. If Rose can get fully fit and regain the left-back place at Spurs, he is a shoo-in for the squad, but that’s still a big if at this stage.

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