England’s embarrassment of riches: Starting XI of unpicked players including Sancho, White and Pope
- Sean Fisher
- 10 November 2021
Gareth Southgate has gathered his squad together for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, but is there an equally good starting XI watching from home?
A win against Albania on November 12 will be enough for them to book their place in next year's winter tournament, and Gareth Southgate has picked a squad to get the job done.
England's pool of players is so stacked nowadays that regardless of who Southgate picks, there will always be grumblings about those who missed out.
November's 25-man squad is no different, so here at Planet Sport we're taking a look at a starting XI of unpicked players to underline England's embarrassment of riches.
Nick Pope
Was part of the Euro squad in the summer and looked set to maybe even pip Jordan Pickford to a starting spot before an extremely unfortunate injury ruled him out.
But Pope has now returned for Burnley and has resumed his usual consistent levels for the Clarets.
Tino Livramento
As if England didn't have enough right-backs already, Livramento has entered the equation after enjoying a superb debut season with Southampton.
Originally hailing from Chelsea's academy, Livramento made the switch to the south coast this season and has been a standout player for Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Sure, he's got his work cut out to topple the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James, but at just 18 years old he's certainly got time on his side.
Michael Keane
The Everton defender has made 12 appearances for the Three Lions, but has since fallen down the pecking order.
However, he has become a pivotal figure for the Toffees, and isn't a bad back-up option for Southgate should either Harry Maguire or John Stones pick up an injury.
Ben White
Perhaps one of the harshest omissions from the November squad was that of Ben White.
His debut season at Arsenal started a bit shakily, but the Gunners have turned a corner under Mikel Arteta and suddenly White is beginning to look a lot more like a £50million defender.
Alongside Aaron Ramsdale, he has revitalised a shaky Gunner backline and suddenly the north London side look tough to beat. An England recall can only be a matter of time.
Aaron Cresswell
Both Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell were selected for the squad, but Shaw in particular can consider himself lucky. The 26-year-old has suffered a huge drop in form since his Euro final goal against Italy.
And he'll need to up his game if he plans to fend off Aaron Cresswell, who has been a consistent performer in West Ham's superb season.
The Hammers find themselves third in the Premier League and have produced wins over Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City this season.
Going off current form, you'd have to say he's a better option than Shaw. Maybe if Shaw hadn't given his country their best sporting moment for over 60 years in the summer, then it would have been Cresswell wearing the white of England this month.
Conor Gallagher
Another player who is enjoying a great run of form is Crystal Palace's Conor Gallagher.
The Chelsea loanee showed glimpses of his potential for West Brom last season and under Patrick Vieira he has shone at Selhurst Park.
Gallagher has netted four goals for Palace, and from midfield too. His standout performance against Manchester City alone was deserving of a call-up, but it seems he'll have to wait his turn.
Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips are Southgate's preferred options, and with Jordan Henderson and Jude Bellingham also in the mix, Gallagher will have to prove that he can maintain his form over the course of a season to force his way in.
Jesse Lingard
James Maddison
It's still surprising that Maddison has only one cap for England. His chances in the summer were ruined by a lack of playing time, but he's reintegrated himself into Brendan Rodgers' plans this season.
In fact, Maddison has appeared in each of the Foxes' Premier League games this season, and recently opened his account in a 2-1 win over Brentford.
It's certainly not the best he's played in his career, but everyone knows the talent the 24-year-old possesses. However, with Jack Grealish ahead of him in the pecking order and still not an England regular, the chances of Maddison starting for the Three Lions any time soon look remote.
Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho's £72million move to Manchester United has not gone to plan for the 21-year-old.
He had to be world class at Borussia Dortmund just to get a look in, and Southgate wasted no time in kicking him out the moment his form dipped.
It has to be said that Sancho has barely been given a chance at United, with under-pressure boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preferring the duo of Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford on the flanks.
Jarrod Bowen
After moving to east London in January last year, Bowen now seems settled at West Ham and is now enjoying his time under David Moyes.
Alongside Michail Antonio and Pablo Fornals he is helping West Ham look serious candidates for a Champions League spot this season. Should they manage it, then Bowen, who already has an admirer in Jurgen Klopp, may just find another one in Southgate.
Mason Greenwood
Manchester United have made a poor start to the season, Mason Greenwood has not. Even in an under-performing side, the 20-year-old has scored four goals, ranking him as the club's joint-top scorer.
After making his England debut against Iceland, Greenwood hasn't really recovered from the scandal that left both him and Phil Foden out of the squad.
Southgate insists he has spoken to Greenwood and that the player would prefer to focus on cementing a place at United before looking towards an England spot.
There's no doubting his astronomical potential, though. If he can get it right and continue his growth at Old Trafford, he's one for the future.
