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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

England XI vs Albania: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, latest injuries today for World Cup qualifier

England manager Gareth Southgate has refreshed his "exciting" forward line for today's World Cup qualifier in Albania.

The likes of Jesse Lingard, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ollie Watkins and Jude Bellingham all impressed in the 5-0 stroll past San Marino but will now start in the Air Albania Stadium.

Captain Harry Kane watched on from the bench and takes attacking focal point in a 4-3-3, with Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount supporting.

Southgate confirmed Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, now considered a forward for England, are the only absentees, adding: "Touch wood everyone else is OK."

He said at his press conference: "We've only really had Marcus for a game and a half this season, so it's an opportunity for others. We've seen Jesse Lingard come back in. We're a little short of options to refresh the team but the attacking players are very exciting.

"They are in form and looking forward to seeing them play again ... [Foden]'s just a very good player; very exciting, a player who is intelligent in his positioning.

"He has skills to receive the ball under pressure and take players out of the game with his tight control. He has a lovely range of passing. And what's most important is he has a real eye for goal and a hunger to score."

Further back, Declan Rice, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were also left on the bench on Thursday and come into the team.

England XI (4-3-3): Pope; Walker, Maguire, Stones, Shaw; Foden, Rice, Phillips; Sterling, Kane, Mount

Sunday 5pm, ITV

Venue: Air Albania Stadium

Referee: Orel Grinfeeld

England squad: Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Nick Pope (Burnley), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jesse Lingard (West Ham, loan from Manchester United), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton),  Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Injury list: Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka

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