England 2018 World Cup squad: Who's on the plane, who's in contention, who could miss out?

Gareth Southgate has until 4 June to submit his final 23-man squad

England's friendly against Italy at Wembley on Tuesday night is likely to be their final international before Gareth Southgate names his squad for this summer’s 2018 World Cup.

Southgate has until 4 June to name his 23-man selection, though it is likely to be finalised some time before England’s first pre-tournament friendly against Nigeria on 2 June.

His most recent 27-man squad gave us a good indication of who might go to Russia, but there is plenty of time before the deadline and plenty of questions that remain unanswered.

Much will depend on injuries between now and the summer, though certain fringe players may be able to stake their claim with a good showing against Italy.

Ahead of Tuesday’s friendly, who is assured of a place on the plane, who is contention and who has more to do to convince Southgate?

On the plane

Harry Kane

England’s best player, chief scoring threat and a potential captain, Kane is of paramount importance. Were he to miss out through injury, an attack that has struggled for goals under Southgate would only look dangerously blunt.

Dele Alli

Though not enjoying a vintage year at Tottenham, Alli has still created more scoring opportunities than any other Englishman in the Premier League this season. On form, he is capable of tying England’s disjointed attack together and making up for its lack of invention.

Eric Dier

Perhaps Southgate’s most important player on the defensive side of the ball, Dier also offers versatility and could be Southgate’s central figure in either the backline or in midfield. Questions remain over him at the elite level, as seen in Tottenham’s Champions League defeat to Juventus.

Raheem Sterling

Sterling has enjoyed a superb, somewhat underrated season at Manchester City. Though his finishing can be erratic, he regularly puts himself in prime scoring positions and should be considered as something of a match-winner in the build-up to Russia.

Kyle Walker

His display as a right-sided centre-half against the Netherlands was encouraging, but Southgate would be wise to play the Premier League’s outstanding right back in his optimum position. Walker will be key if England are to make the most of their wing-back formation.

John Stones

Southgate wants his three-man defence to play out of the back and Stones will be integral to that. Injury in November disrupted a fine start to the season and he still suffers from poor lapses in concentration, but this has been a year of noticeable improvement under Pep Guardiola.

Jordan Henderson

Kane’s main rival for captain’s armband, Henderson is not universally popular but does offer better vision and a greater range of passing than he is often credited for. Perhaps better deployed as a midfield ‘runner’ than a ‘sitter’.

Jordan Pickford

The leading candidate in the race to be the No 1, if only because he has been slightly less error-prone than his rivals for the jersey. His performance against the Netherlands was generally encouraging, but Southgate will need to see more of the same.

Jamie Vardy

Comfortably seen as England’s second-choice striker and cover for Kane, though his radically different style of play raises questions. May not be suited when up against deep-set defences in the group stage.

Marcus Rashford

The only barrier to Rashford’s selection will be if he suffers another spell out of favour under Jose Mourinho. After improved performances of late, particularly that brace against Liverpool, that seems unlikely.

In contention

Jesse Lingard

Deserving of a place after an excellent year at Old Trafford, Lingard’s cause was helped no end by his winning goal in Amsterdam on Friday night. Though somewhat inconsistent, he is capable of pulling a rabbit from a hat and seems to relish playing in important matches.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Oxlade-Chamberlain has steadily rebuilt his career since joining Liverpool and though questions remain over whether he offers enough creativity in a central role, his chances have been helped by a lack of other options.

Harry Maguire

Carries the ball out the back, distributes it well and also provides an intimidating physical presence. Maguire’s inexperience at the top level counts against him but has done little wrong when called upon so far.

Ryan Bertrand

Forced out of these friendlies through injury but an underrated full back and well-suited to an attacking role on the left flank. Impressed on the overlap in last year’s friendly against France and should not merely be overlooked because of Southampton’s struggles.

Phil Jones

Likely to fill a seat on the plane so long as he is fit, though his injury record is a concern. It also remains to be seen whether he wins his place back at United once he has recovered from his current problem.

Jack Butland

Most likely to be Southgate’s second-choice ‘keeper, but Butland will be given a chance to change that against Italy. Two costly errors for Stoke against Leicester and Everton have overshadowed an upturn in form under Paul Lambert.

Joe Gomez

Seems to be highly-regarded by Southgate and could be in contention to start the opener against Tunisia as a centre-half. Used solely as a right back at Liverpool, however, and faces competition from Trent Alexander-Arnold for his place.

Kieran Trippier

Walker’s surprise deployment as a right-sided centre-half was a significant boost to Trippier’s chances, though he could still miss out if Southgate uses Walker’s versatility to free up a slot elsewhere in the squad.

Ashley Young

Young has earned Jose Mourinho’s trust as a makeshift left back this season and, though far from a natural in the position, has played himself into contention. Could also fill in on the right if necessary.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Another young player who has his advocates within the England set-up, Loftus-Cheek’s momentum was broken by an ankle injury that sidelined the Crystal Palace loanee for three months. His performance in November’s draw with Germany at Wembley has not been forgotten, however.

Joe Hart

Fortunate to still be in contention after a dismal year with West Ham, Hart’s experience perhaps gives him the edge over uncapped Nick Pope in Southgate’s mind. Unlikely to be anything but third-choice.

Work to do

Danny Rose

Once a shoe-in at left wing-back, Rose’s injury struggles and troubles at Tottenham have made things more uncertain. A run in the side at club level would help, but his performances also need to improve if he is to stave off healthy competition for his place.

Danny Welbeck

Places in the forward positions are at a premium, meaning Welbeck will need to finish the season strongly in order to force his way in. A goal against Italy, following his recent brace against Milan, would help his cause.

Adam Lallana

Still highly thought of by Southgate and would add some much-needed guile to England’s attack, but Lallana’s lack of football this season is a concern and he remains some way off his best.

Alfie Mawson

Mawson is probably behind Tarkowski in the queue for a centre-back spot but could boost his chances of sneaking into the squad if he plays and performs impressively against Italy. His ability to pass out from the back is what Southgate wants in his side.

Jack Wilshere

England’s dearth of midfield invention means Wilshere was always likely to be considered, but his withdrawal from the current squad with a knee injury should have raised serious doubts over whether he can play a string of games in quick succession over the summer.

Jake Livermore

A regular in Southgate’s squads but likely to lose out in the final analysis due to that lack of midfield creativity. Dier and Henderson can both adequately fill defensive-minded roles in the middle of the park and the West Bromwich Albion man offers little different.

Nick Pope

Likely to lose out to Hart for the third-choice goalkeeper slot, though statistically probably the best English goalkeeper in the Premier League this season. WIll hope to feature at some point against Italy, though Butland is expected to start.

Lewis Cook

One for who Russia has perhaps come too soon. His progressive passing from midfield should be of value in tournaments to come if he makes good on his potential.

Gary Cahill

Knows how to play in a three-man defence and would bring experience to a youthful backline, but his omission from these friendlies, lack of recent minutes at Chelsea and the versatility of Walker make his selection for Russia extremely unlikely.

Predicted squad

Goalkeepers: Pickford, Butland, Hart.

Defenders: Walker, Trippier, Bertrand, Young, Stones, Jones, Maguire, Gomez, Tarkowski.

Midfielders: Dier, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Loftus-Cheek, Sterling, Lingard, Alli, Lallana.

Strikers: Kane, Vardy, Rashford.