When England started losing players to injury ahead of their double-header with Italy and Ukraine, Gareth Southgate would have had his concerns. Defeat against either nation would have left the Three Lions in a battle to finish in the top two of their Euro 2024 qualifying group at a time when Southgate has publicly questioned the depths of talent coming through the system. However, England dug deep to end their long wait for another victory in Italy and coasted past Ukraine three days later, already setting themselves up to reach the Finals in Germany and their odds for the tournament staying low. The manner of each win can only have impressed Southgate, but will it now result in the players who missed out having to bide their time for a recall?
Soon after the squad was named, Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford were high-profile withdrawals, particularly the latter who is in the form of his life with Manchester United. With 27 goals to his name, there was a perception that Rashford was undroppable, the likelihood being that he would have started on the left flank versus Italy, but Jack Grealish and James Maddison both offered something different to the raw ruthlessness that Rashford has displayed this campaign. Rashford will perhaps still get the nod when all three are fit, but it is now no longer the foregone conclusion that it once was, rendering his absence this time around as a blessing in disguise.
Mount would have been banking on England action to boost his playing time for 2023, the Chelsea man having fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge due to a combination of form and contractual reasons. That may not necessarily be a hindrance on the international stage - Southgate has shown that with other players - but Kalvin Phillips's performance in Naples alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham effectively pushed Mount down the list of creative midfield options when the right flank is tied up by Bukayo Saka.
Despite his recent return to action after a notable absence from life at Manchester United, Jadon Sancho was realistically not going to feature in the England squad this time around, Southgate instead allowing the winger to stay grounded at Old Trafford. Sancho has five goals and one assist to his name in the Premier League and Europa League this season - respectful figures in the circumstances - and he can still be deemed as one of the next in line should he be required in June. That said, Maddison is now ahead of him on the left, and preference will currently go to the Leicester City man even if Sancho rediscovers the form that he once displayed with Borussia Dortmund.
Away from creative areas, competition for right-back has gotten interesting. There was a time when Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James were regarded as the best two options, but the former has effectively been cast aside by Southgate. From James's perspective, he may very well have started versus Ukraine, but yet another injury issue prevented him from doing so. On the back of also missing the World Cup and Southgate showing a sustained preference for Kyle Walker, regardless of his match fitness or off-the-field issues, there is an argument that James - viewed by some as the best right-back in the world - is now only third choice for England behind Walker and Tripper. body check tags ::
