Phil Foden is set to be a shock omission from the England U21s starting line up for their European Championship opener.
The Manchester City teenager has been billed as one of the young stars to watch in Italy - but boss Aidy Boothroyd will start him on the bench for Tuesday night's clash with France.
James Maddison will provide the creativity linking midfield with attack, and Chelsea's Mason Mount will be trusted ahead of Foden after his excellent season at Derby on loan.
Up front Boothroyd is set to keep faith with the experience of Dominic Solanke, who scored goals during the qualifying campaign, rather than Everton's in-form Dominic Calvert Lewin.
Leaving Foden out takes the pressure of the Manchester City kid after he found himself one of the poster-boys of the tournament around Italy.
Boothroyd admits he held face-to-face talks with every squad member to explain his selection, and says competition was fierce.
They must win their Group C, including Romania and Croatia, to guarantee progress to the last four.
He said: “ I've spoken to every player, those who are in the team and those who are not so they could get it out of their system and then be prepared to come back in if called upon. It has been very difficult but a nice difficulty to be able to pick a team from a squad of that talent.
“In the end I've got to pick a team that is a mixture between the soldiers and the artists, as I've said before. We don't have a team of ball players but we don't have a team of hod-carriers either.
“We have got a mixture, a good balance and probably every single player could ask why they are not in the team and they would probably be right. But in the end the selection is a conversation between myself and the coaches. I listen to what everyone has to say and then I make the decision. I have to say every player to a man has taken it very well and is raring to go.
“I think this is a better squad (than two years ago). It's got more depth. We will be looking to make sure we don't take anyone lightly and perform ourselves.
“It is knock-out football from day one. You don't get the luxury of having a game to just assess things. You are at it from the start."
Likely team: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Clarke-Salter, Tomori, DaSilva, Choudhury, Mount, Maddison, Sessegnon, Gray, Solanke
