The Future of the England Men’s National Team : Who Can Help Us Win an International Title?

England Men’s Senior National Team have seen some fantastic progress over recent tournaments, from reaching the semi-finals in Russia back in 2018, to narrowly missing out on the coveted European Championships trophy at Wembley in 2021.

Image: A Recent England Starting XI. Source: The Telegraph

However, with many key players ageing and the team only reaching the quarter finals of the most recent World Cup in Qatar last year, there may well be a need for Gareth Southgate to refresh the current squad set up.

In this article we are going to break down each on-field position and view the best options currently available to Southgate and his coaching team versus the current players in said positions whilst also overviewing the youth talent available to the Three Lions manager.

Squad Alternatives

Whilst there is little argument that many of the expected names on the team sheet for England’s senior men’s squad have the ability to win a major trophy, having fallen at the final hurdles most recently, there is such a wide variety of talents panning across not only the Premier League but also in Europe’s top league’s as well as in the lower English Football League.

Many off these names deserve a shout, and with the current Premier League top 6 looking much more diverse than it has in recent years, there are multiple players whose names should be put into the hat for a call up.

As far as goalkeeping goes, Jordan Pickford has been solid for England over recent tournaments. However, there is an argument that Newcastle United’s Nick Pope deserves another stint with the Three Lions. Pope currently has 13 clean sheets in the Premier League with his third placed Newcastle team, compared to Pickford’s 7 with 17th placed Everton.

Aaron Ramsdale currently acts as a back-up to Pickford, playing for second place Arsenal and equal on clean sheets with Pope, it seems absurd that these two players are not considered more seriously to be first team starters by Southgate.

Image: Aaron Ramsdale in Action. Source: The Times

Choosing defenders very much depends on the style of play the coach wishes to implement. Usually selected is Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, a player who has only started 15 matches this season, Maguire’s selection is usually a choice which leaves many England fans confused, especially given the range of talent we are currently seeing across the top half of the Premier League. Defenders such as Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings and Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles have both had incredible seasons, with the statistics to prove it, arguably putting them above Harry Maguire in England’s defensive roles.

Brighton & Hove Albion are currently fighting for the final Europa League spot in the Premier League, with key player Lewis Dunk boasting the most successful passes in the top-flight this season, a key player in Brighton’s fight at the top half of the table, Dunk can also fall into the playmaking role, pushing up into midfield, making him a great asset to have in a national team set-up, leaving many fans proclaiming that he should be given his chance by Southgate and his team.

Image: Brighton Captain Lewis Dunk. Source: BBC

England currently have a range of talents in both midfield and forward roles, young talent Jude Bellingham broke onto the international stage during the Qatar 2022 World Cup and has since been coined a future England legend should he keep up such performances. Defensive midfielder Declan Rice has also become a key player in the England setup, and therefore any players on the field should be built around these two key individuals.

Image: Jude Bellingham (LEFT) and Declan Rice (RIGHT). Source: Manchester Evening News

Leicester City’s James Maddison was called up for the World Cup in Qatar however he played 0 minutes in the entire tournament. A statistic which is near insulting for a player who can seriously influence the game at club level as much as he can. Other players of this position who should be considered include Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse, an individual worshipped for his talent in taking free kicks.

23-year-old Joe Willock of Newcastle United who has been improving season on season, proved this year with best statistics to date, such as an 84% pass success rate and 39 shots on target, Willock is a promising young prospect who is rapidly improving, and makes himself someone who Southgate can’t continue to ignore for much longer.

Currently sitting in second place for most goals scored in the Premier League behind Erling Haaland, whilst also smashing Wayne Rooney’s goal scoring record for the Three Lions in March 2023 against Italy, nobody can argue that captain Harry Kane is the incorrect choice for England in the striker’s position. It is, however, vital to have the best options within the squad.

Image: Harry Kane Celebrating for England. Source: Goal.com

When it comes to strikers, statistics do not lie. Brentford’s Ivan Toney boasts the next best record, followed by Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson as well as Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, all of whom have collected England caps in previous tournaments and qualifiers. Making this a difficult choice for Southgate.

U21 Prospects

Whilst there is a large amount of talent in the senior fold, there are also colossal levels of talent within the England youth set up. The first of whom is Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, who captained the under 21’s in their 2-1 loss to Croatia back in March. Ramsey has been attracting attention for a couple of seasons, from both fans and pundits alike at just 21 years of age. This season, Ramsey has posed both an attacking threat as well as a strong defensive figure at club level and many have argued he deserves the chance to shine on a senior international stage in the near future.

Image: Jacob Ramsey. Source: Aston Villa Football Club

There are many other recognisable names currently shining in the youth squad. These include Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, Arsenal Forward Emile Smith Rowe and Middlesbrough loanee Cameron Archer who has been scoring for fun in recent weeks. Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White has also been attracting much attention of late with a 70% pass completion record and a 55% shooting accuracy, he is definitely a player who is in with a shout for a call-up in the not too distant future.

Regardless of the players who do and do not make it into any Three Lions squad in the immediate future, it is safe to say that the England national team is in safe hands, with a multitude of current and future stars at the hands of Gareth Southgate and his coaching team.