Raheem Sterling will return to England’s starting lineup for the qualifier against Slovenia on Thursday, operating in the No10 position, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain retaining his place on the right flank.
Sterling endured a difficult time with the national team last month and suffered the ignominy of being substituted at half-time in Malta with the game goalless and frustration mounting among the travelling support. Sterling played only the last seven minutes of the subsequent win over Slovakia but though it is almost two years since he scored for his country, he will earn his 35th cap at Wembley at the age of only 22.
Southgate had invited John Barnes to address his squad in May, the former Liverpool winger speaking about his experiences in the game and acknowledging there were periods when he had suffered abuse and stinging criticism from the terraces. “John came and spoke to us a few months ago,” said the England manager. “We have some very exciting talent who want to go and express themselves, and we want to give them the framework to do that.Raheem comes into that bracket. He is a tough lad. That’s one of the attributes I really like about him. He bounces back from disappointments and he goes again. I can see he is ready for tomorrow and looking forward to it. He is in a good moment with his club, he is working with a good coach there and we have huge belief in him as well.
“We want the crowd to be excited with what they’re watching, and he’s a player who can do that: he can beat people; his goalscoring record is improving, which is important for him, and he works hard for the team, chasing back and tackling. He’s not just an old-fashioned winger. He’s a ’94 birthday, so he’s not old at all, but he’s at a moment where, like a lot of these guys, the next few years are very important to establish themselves as top players. He recognises that.”
With Delle Ali suspended for the game Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane – the captain – will start for the first time together in an England lineup having been on the pitch for barely a minute together up to now. Oxlade-Chamberlain began the wins over Malta and Slovakia but has endured a fitful beginning to life as a Liverpool player and has yet to start a Premier League match for his new club. Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier will anchor midfield against opponents ranked No55 in the world.
England (4-2-3-1, probable): Hart; Walker, Stones, Cahill, Bertrand; Dier, Henderson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sterling, Rashford; Kane.
Slovenia (4-1-4-1, probable): Oblak; Aljaz Struna, Samardzic, Cesar, Jokic; Krhin; Kurtic, Rotman, Birsa, Bezjak; Ilicic.