England players in with a shot as Southgate set to name 55-man World Cup squad

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    Gareth Southgate is set to name a 55-man provisional squad for England's World Cup squad – giving a slew of fringe players the chance to impress before the competition begins.

    Participants of the World Cup will have to submit a squad of 35-55 players ahead of the event held in Qatar. And Southgate plans to use the maximum amount allowed by FIFA when he unveils his squad on Thursday, The Telegraph reported.

    And although this initial amount will be whittled down to 26 by November 18, a plethora of stars will get the opportunity to stake a final claim for a spot in Southgate's squad. The Three Lions will have to be at their best to impress Southgate following their poor performance in the Nations League last month that saw them get relegated.

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    While stars such as Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Jack Grealish's seats on the plane to Qatar are already reserved, there's a number of spots up for grabs following the injuries to Kyle Walker and Reece James, who are still likely to be included in the provisional squad.

    The pair's absences have opened the door for Liverpool duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez to fill the voids left in Southgate's defence, along with Newcastle ace Kieran Trippier.

    Alexander-Arnold's place in the team was in doubt following his indifferent start to the season with the Reds, which has seen him blamed for a number of errors that have resulted in Jurgen Klopp's side losing games. But his Anfield counterpart Gomez has received glowing reviews for his recent displays, and calls for the 25-year-old to be included in England's squad grew louder after his defensive masterclass against Manchester City at the weekend – even at the expense of Harry Maguire – after he kept Erling Haaland quiet.

    Who do you think Southgate should include in his 55-man provisional England squad for the World Cup? Let us know in the comments below


    Trippier's impressive displays for the Magpies this season, which have seen him score one goal and provide one assist, have heightened his claim for a place in the side. Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is also in line for a spot in Southgate's team following his stellar outings for the Blues under new boss Graham Potter.

    Crystal Palace ace Eberechi Eze is set to be included in the provisional squad as a result of his attacking prowess at Selhurst Park during the current campaign. Eze has scored and provided two assists in 10 Premier League games thus far.

    It will be a proud moment for Eze, who was robbed of the chance to feature in Southgate's squad for Euro 2020 due to injury. Fans are also keen on Leicester City ace James Maddison to be added to the Three Lions collective and are perplexed as to why the talented No.10 hasn't been named in previous squads by the England boss, despite his goalscoring form.

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    • Gareth Southgate
    • World Cup
    • England Football Team

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