Kyle Walker to start England’s clash against Wales and Gareth Southgate could make further changes for final World Cup group clash


Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and Kyle Walker are all set to start for England tonight against Wales, talkSPORT understands.

Jude Bellingham is expected to be used in a more advanced position with Gareth Southgate sticking with a back four for the final Group B fixture.

Southgate is set to turn to Walker for the Wales clash at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium

Mason Mount, Bukayo Saka, Kieran Trippier and Raheem Sterling are the players set to drop to the bench.

Experienced Manchester City defender Walker has yet to feature in Qatar having sustained a groin injury that almost ruled him out of the tournament.

But England boss Southgate is bringing the 70-cap star into his starting XI for their last group match, live on talkSPORT.

Walker will play in his usual right-back role, in place of Trippier with Luke Shaw poised to continue at left-back.

The 32-year-old is set to be among four changes to the team which drew 0-0 against USA.

Liverpool captain Henderson, who was alongside the manager at the pre-match press conference, is in line to start alongside Declan Rice in central midfield.

That is likely to mean Bellingham plays further forward, with Mount making way.

Man City forward Foden is in line to start for the first time, after Southgate’s decision not to even bring him off the bench against USA drew fury from some fans.

Man United star Rashford is also poised to play, meaning Jack Grealish will again to have settle for a place on the bench.

Foden is set for his chance against Wales

GETTY

Foden is set for his chance against Wales

Rashford will start too after coming off the bench against USA

Getty

Rashford will start too after coming off the bench against USA

James Maddison will be on the bench too after returning to training at the weekend, while defender Ben White is the only player who could miss out on the squad having been suffering with illness.

England will advance to the last 16 of the World Cup so long as they avoid a four-goal defeat to Wales.

A win would guarantee England top spot, but they can still draw and finish top unless Iran beat the United States, or the Americans win by at least four goals.

England will also finish top if Iran and the USA draw and they don’t lose to Wales by four or more goals.

On his selection against Wales, Southgate said: “I’ve got to balance freshness with stability, so that’s always a decision you are making when you pick the team.

“We haven’t qualified yet. We are not in a scenario that we had when we played Belgium in Russia and we were qualified. It was a case of first or second. We didn’t really know what would be beneficial when we picked the team. And then we had two days of ‘why are we changing the team’ even though we had qualified.  

“I’ve sort of worked out how all of this works. If we change it, we shouldn’t have. If we win it was justified, if we don’t it wasn’t. We just have to make the best decisions with the information we have and prepare the team in the best possible way. 

“We want to play well. We want to win the group, we want to win football matches. There has to be a balance of freshness. Without a doubt the two games have taken a lot out of the players. But also stability. If you make lots of changes you can lose a bit of rhythm as well.”

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Source link: https://talksport.com/football/1260518/england-xi-wales-world-cup-henderson-foden-walker-rashford/

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