England World Cup squad: Jack Wilshere left out by Gareth Southgate but Fabian Delph set to be included
The 23-man squad plus stand-bys will be confirmed on Wednesday but Southgate has started telling players whether they have made the cut or not
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Your support makes all the difference.Gareth Southgate has not included either Jack Wilshere or Joe Hart in his World Cup squad, which will be announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The 23-man squad plus stand-bys will be confirmed on Wednesday but Southgate has started telling players whether they have made the cut or not, and has made the surprise decision not to pick two of England’s most experienced players.
Joe Hart has 75 England caps and has gone to four tournaments, three as first choice. But he has had two indifferent loan seasons in a row, at Torino and West Ham United, since being dropped by Pep Guardiola. And now Southgate has decided to go for three younger keepers in Russia, with Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and Nick Pope likely to be the three he takes to Russia.
Jack Wilshere has yet to feature for England under Southgate, and while he was called up for the squad for the March friendlies against Holland and Italy, he had to withdraw with a knee injury. Wilshere has started 12 Premier League games for Arsenal this season without ever making himself first choice, and he did not start the last two games of the season. He has not played for England since Euro 2016, when Roy Hodgson took him but he struggled to make an impact. Fabian Delph is likely to go as an option in either midfield or at left wingback.
Southgate is planning to take Danny Rose even though the Tottenham defender has only started nine Premier League games this season, having failed to force a move away from the club last August. Southgate still rates Rose as England’s best left wingback and wants to give him the friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica as a chance to prove his fitness.
Southgate also sees Kyle Walker, John Stones and Harry Maguire as his starting back three in Russia and Burnely’s James Tarkowski is therefore set to be on the standby list.
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