Pickford, Walker and Henderson absent from highest rated potential England squad

With Gareth Southgate set to name his first England squad for the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign on Wednesday and The Three Lions boss has certainly not been afraid to make some big decisions in his time in charge.

Southgate has the opportunity to reward a number of players that approach the upcoming international break in greater form than many of the usual suspects in the England set up, but will he be bold enough to do so?

We take a look at the players most deserving of recognition using our statistical ratings this season and compile both a squad of 23 and the highest rated starting XI available.

GOALKEEPERS

While Jordan Pickford is certain to get a call-up, the Everton keeper’s performances for much of the campaign have been well below his best. In fact, Southgate’s first choice is the lowest rated English goalkeeper to have made five or more top-flight starts this season (6.44).

The highest, and a player that is in form having finally broken into the side at Southampton, is Angus Gunn (7.00). His five Premier League starts have come against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham - helping Saints to points against the former and latter - producing 20 saves in that time, including a Paul Pogba penalty.

The significantly more experienced pairing of Ben Foster (6.78) and Tom Heaton (6.70) complete the trio of keepers in our squad, though Jack Butland - who has an identical rating to the latter in the Championship - is also worthy of some acknowledgement.

DEFENDERS

As far as the defence is concerned, there are more notable absentees, with the likes of Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose all missing out. Their places in our highest rated squad are taken by Aaron Wan-Bissaka (7.25), Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.24), Luke Shaw (7.00) and Ben Chilwell (6.98).

The former is uncapped as things stand but the calls for his inclusion are loudening, and for good reason after a superb first full season in the Premier League. The 21-year-old has made the most tackles in all of Europe’s top five leagues (111) but it’s the timing of those tackles that is so impressive having been dribbled past just seven times all season.

At centre-back it’s more or less the usual suspects, although John Stones (6.97), is the lowest rated of the four included. Jame Tarkowski (7.11) and Harry Maguire (7.08) just steal the starting spots ahead of Michael Keane (7.07), who has enjoyed a return to form this season after a difficult debut campaign at Goodison Park.

MIDFIELDERS

In terms of the wide options, there are two runaway contenders to take a place in the starting XI ahead of the double header with Czech Republic and Montenegro. Following his hat-trick at the weekend Raheem Sterling is not only the highest rated Englishman in top-flight football but the highest in the entire Premier League (7.73), while Jadon Sancho is one of only five players in Europe’s top five leagues to register ten or more assists this season, whilst weighing in with eight Bundesliga goals himself.

The understudies are far less likely to receive a call this week but both Andros Townsend (6.97) and Burnley youngster Dwight McNeil (7.01) have performed admirably this season. Meanwhile, the heart of the midfield is missing the likes of Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier and Jesse Lingard, all of whom have had frustrating seasons with injury but none of whom have played at their best when fit.

James Maddison (7.15) and Dele Alli (7.02) take starting spots either side of Declan Rice (6.99), who has announced his intent to represent England having previously done so for the Republic of Ireland - though crucially never in a competitive international. The West Ham youngster has been a revelation this season and is improving all the time, winning possession in the midfield third the second most times in the Premier League (138).

Given that the holding role in midfield is one that no player has really been able to cement as their own the 20-year-old, despite being uncapped, would be a surprise omission. The back-up defensive midfielder in our ratings is Isaac Hayden (6.96), who has had a positive impact on the Newcastle team this year when it had seemed his time at the club could be coming to an end.

FORWARDS

Harry Kane (7.44) leads the line, while Marcus Rashford (6.99) and Callum Wilson (7.01) also make the cut - with the latter returning from injury in some style at the weekend. The last final place in the side goes to Troy Deeney (7.08), who has three goals and three assists in his last four appearances to give his faint prospects of call-up a timely boost.