Gareth Southgate’s appointment as interim England coach has hardly set pulses racing but after an abject Euros and the farcical manner of Sam Allardyce’s early departure perhaps a conservative approach is required right now. Southgate is a steady hand on the tiller to guide the national side into calmer waters. A reliable company man.
Yet if the former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender has any political nous – and a career’s worth of riskless interviews and punditry suggests that he does – he will be perfectly aware that while continuity is expected of him he also has some scope for experimentation, with arguably far more leeway afforded to him than to his disgraced predecessors.
The reason for this – rather depressingly – is because the bar has been dramatically lowered in recent months. In fact the only way the likeable new incumbent of our hopes and dreams can come in for severe criticism would be if England somehow lose to Malta this weekend or if he demands a large sum of money per question in his pressers. Anything above and beyond that will be viewed as a bonus at present.
So don’t be surprised then if the hired straight-shooter throws in a curveball or two with his squad selections in the months ahead. We have already seen the unanticipated promotion of Burnley’s Michael Keane following the withdrawal through injury of an equally unanticipated choice in Glen Johnson.
This points to further left-field picks to come; this points to an U21 coach elevated into the hot seat and happy to bring along his recent charges for the ride.
If that is the case then these five should be on stand-by for a phone call in the not-too-distant future…
Ben Gibson
Commanding, intelligent, and left-footed – what’s not to like about the 23-year-old defender?
Ask Boro fans and they’ll insist it’s a negative perception of their club that has so far hindered their prized asset’s international hopes – or snobbery in short – yet that idea holds less water when you consider it was a Burnley player who Southgate turned to when Johnson pulled out.
Perhaps then it is Gibson’s lack of top flight experience that is currently going against him, a drawback that will be remedied soon enough with a solid 2016/17 so far, while a successful partnership with John Stones in the U21s under Southgate is a huge tick in the plus column.
James Ward-Prowse
With 23 appearances for the U21s – most under under Southgate’s tutorage – the talented midfielder would have fancied his chances of making this week’s squad were it not for limited first team opportunities so far under new Southampton boss Claude Puel.
There’s no questioning Ward-Prowse’s ability to tick over possession with the best of them – not forgetting too his reliable threat from set pieces – but when his best chance to impress comes in the Europa League then an international call-up seems remote for the time being.
At 21, though, he’s still just a babe in arms and Southgate evidently rates him highly. An injury to a team-mate here, a strong showing there, and the Saints youngster could still don the Three Lions on his chest before the year is out.
Will Hughes
The Derby midfielder has been talked about as a future England star for so long it genuinely jolts to be reminded that he’s still only 21. Tenacious in the tackle while always offering something going forward his lengthy absence through injury last year badly dented the Rams’ promotion hopes.
Now fit and firing again Hughes may find stiff competition ahead of him but being an integral part of Southgate’s lion cubs improves his chances enormously.
His uncanny resemblance to a White Walker from Game of Thrones doesn’t hurt either as it always offers up the possibility of unnerving opponents.
Jack Butland
A pre-season set-back to his recuperation after fracturing his ankle on international duty last year means the three qualifiers on the horizon – along with November’s friendly v Spain – will come too soon for Butland to re-establish himself as a notable threat to Joe Hart for the (mostly) yellow jersey.
There is no doubting however that the 6ft 5 stopper would have been punching the air with joy at Southgate’s appointment after several years of being his number one at U21 level.
For now his main priority will be to regain full fitness and help haul Stoke from the clutches of the drop zone. Should Southgate secure his position permanently however Butland’s future looks very bright indeed.
Nathan Redmond
If the U21s is meant as a stepping stone to the big arenas then Redmond would be justified in wondering just how many step-overs he’s supposed to do before gaining full recognition.
His 31 appearances is the fourth highest at that level and the Southampton winger rarely failed to pose a danger with his pace and trickery.
The 22-year-old can count himself unfortunate to miss out on this occasion, especially with Sterling’s late withdrawal going to Andros Townsend instead. That can only be attributed to form and form is temporary. Redmond is class.