Jadon Sancho is poised to make his first competitive start for England against Czech Republic tonight.
The Borussia Dortmund star has enjoyed a dazzling season with the Bundesliga side, scoring nine times and providing 17 assists to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s plans.
He forms a potentially fearsome front three alongside Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling.
Callum Hudson-Odoi will be hoping for a chance to come on and play alongside Sancho with the Chelsea starlet earning a shock call-up last week.
With Luke Shaw returning to Manchester United with a knock, Leicester’s Ben Chilwell could start ahead of Danny Rose at left-back with Michael Keane and Harry Maguire forming a partnership at centre-half.
Tomas Kalas, on loan at Bristol City from Chelsea this season, is set to start for Czech Republic with Roma’s Patrik Schick leading the line.
Who has plenty to prove?
Jordan Pickford
It takes only one bad performance as a goalkeeper to have your position scrutinised and Pickford’s display for Everton against Newcastle ensured he faced a number of awkward questions on the eve of this match.
He showed his class in the win over Chelsea but needs a clean sheet to silence the doubters.
Harry Maguire
England should boast most of the possession and are not expected to be tested too often defensively by rather limited opponents.
But, like Pickford, Maguire needs a solid performance to demonstrate he deserves to be one of Gareth Southgate’s first-choice central defenders.
Matej Vydra revealed that the Czech Republic see the 26-year-old Leicester man as a weak link — Maguire needs to demonstrate otherwise.
Jordan Henderson
Less than a year after being an inspiration for England at the World Cup, the Liverpool midfielder is struggling to keep his place in the side.
The addition of youngsters Harry Winks and Declan Rice to the squad has made competition for places even more intense, plus Eric Dier remains a factor for Henderson to worry about.
England vs Czech Republic predicted XIs
England team to face Czech Republic (4-3-3): Pickford, Walker, Keane, Maguire, Chilwell, Henderson, Dier, Alli, Sancho, Kane, Sterling
Czech Republic team to face England (4-2-3-1): Pavlenka, Kaderabek, Celustka, Kalas, Novak, Pavelka, Soucek, Masopust, Darida, Gebre Selassie, Schick
