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After a highly successful summer for the England National team and Gareth Southgate, the next set of fixtures are already going to be on the mind of the manager. The squad performed admirably in Russia, despite what could also be perceived as a missed opportunity. Southgate will be looking at what further options he has available at his disposal for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixture against Spain and the following friendly fixture against Switzerland at the King Power Stadium.
The opening two fixtures of the Premier League has given the manager and his staff an opportunity to look at possible different options for the upcoming squads. Despite there being talk that the pool of English talent is dropping in the Premier League there are some players who could have well played their way into contention for the upcoming fixtures. Even if they cannot be part of the Spain fixture then at least the possibility of gaining an opportunity in the friendly against Switzerland.
#5 James Maddison
One of the new faces at the King Power Stadium this season is former Norwich attacker James Maddison, and he has started very impressively so far in the blue of Leicester. After his stand-out season in the Championship for Norwich last year where he scored an impressive 15 goals in all competitions and had 8 assists to his name, the former Coventry man was always going to attract the attention of the Premier League clubs.
Two games into his career under the management of Claude Puel for Leicester, he has opened his goalscoring account in the 2-1 victory over Wolves, and for large parts of the game was massively impressive. His ability to take the ball in any situation is what has stuck out most about Maddison's two performances in the Premier League. Against the giants of Manchester United, he was the player popping up into between the lines of defence and attack and looked better on the ball in that game than any other player.
The young attacking midfielder has looked extremely comfortable in the Premier League and with his technical ability, he will only continue to get better.
Maddison is exactly the sort of player that England has been looking for, a midfielder who looks for the ball. The National team at the World Cup had a lot of attacking midfielders who ran off the ball and did great work in that respect, however, Maddison could certainly give the team another dimension. Southgate will know of his ability as he has three appearances for England's under-21 team, While a move to the senior squad could be too early yet, but Maddison will certainly be giving Southgate another alternative to add to the current group.
#4 Ross Barkley
After the first two games of the Premier League season it is safe to say that not many of us would have thought Ross Barkley would be in the starting line-up for Chelsea. Current boss Maurizio Sarri has shown tremendous faith in the forgotten man at Stamford Bridge after a torrid spell under the previous manager, Antonio Conte. It is hard to remember that Barkley is still only 24 years of age and now with Sarri and his playing style Barkley will have a fantastic opportunity to propel himself back into the international scene.
Despite being substituted in both the two games this season, Barkley has given a very impressive account of himself. Playing in a three-man midfield alongside Jorginho and Kante has given the former Everton midfielder the opportunity to play with more freedom and join the Chelsea attacks. What has been even more impressive about the Barkley performances is his ability to drop in and play alongside Jorginho in a deeper position, learning more of an understanding in a positional sense in the heart of the midfield. Playing in this role Barkley will know that he has to improve on the defensive side of his game, but with Gianfranco Zola at the club alongside Sarri, it looks like Barkley is adapting his game remarkably so he can certainly make this transition.
The biggest challenge facing Barkley, and this has been the problem for much of his career, is to stay injury free. Watching him against Arsenal, he still looked like he could provide more bursting runs into the final third but there likely remained a worry in the back of his head, about the hamstring problems possibly re-occurring. It is good to see Barkley back and getting game time, thus providing Southgate with another option.
Barkley already has 22 international appearances to his name, but if he stays injury free and continues to play in this multi-talented Chelsea midfield, this can only be great news for Southgate and England. The ability to play in a two-man midfield alongside a natural holding midfielder would be the best platform Barkley could get on the international stage and right now his ability is exactly what they need in this position.
The ability to dictate the game on the ball in the heart of the England midfield is a slight adaptation of his natural game he showed during his time at Goodison Park but Barkley could adapt into exactly what Southgate needs in this England side. Right now he might certainly be in line for a call-up to the England team.
#3 Callum Wilson
Bournemouth has made a good start to the Premier League, and so has their main striker Callum Wilson. Two goals in two games and a special solo goal against West Ham has highlighted just how good the striker is. Last season was a difficult one for the striker after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury and it looked like Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was managing the striker in relation to his fitness and his lack of form with only 8 goals scored.
The 26-year-old looks like he will be a real handful for opposition defences after his start in this campaign. After a full pre-season and the opening two games of the Premier League, it looks like Wilson might just be back to his very best and looks to have improved on his game in other aspects. The movement of Wilson is what makes the striker such a difficult opponent for central defenders. He takes them into wide positions, playing on the back foot as he looks to get in behind them.
His ability to run in behind on the shoulder of defenders provides Bournemouth with so many alternatives to their game especially when you consider how quick the attacking threats of Bournemouth are. Watching Wilson in the opening fixtures, playing with his back to goal is just as dangerous, as he can see different runs being made of off him especially with new signing David Brooks.
Wilson also has the ability to link play to the midfield very well and timing his runs into the penalty box, he can be such a big threat for just about any defence this season.
The big question that will be asked is would he be good enough for England? An opportunity would give Southgate and his staff the answer to this, but he would certainly fit into the attack very efficiently with the quickness of the England attack and his ability in the box from the space in which they would create for him.
With Harry Kane the main man, there is no chance that Wilson would take his place in the team but what England lacks is centre-forwards who can compete and give the team a strong alternative. Wilson is playing and will continue to play regularly for Bournemouth, and that is one of the biggest strengths he has over various competitors for that role in the squad.
Southgate will need to evaluate what he has in terms of strikers moving forward to these next two fixtures and beyond. Can he continue calling up Marcus Rashford? The young man does not feature regularly for Manchester United and has not been in good form for either club or country for a while now, so why does he merit a place in this squad?
If Daniel Sturridge can manage game time at Liverpool he would certainly come into the equation for Southgate, but right now it is only Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy in this England group who can lead the line. Wilson should be on the list of players, who are in line to make the next England squad right now for the upcoming fixtures.
#2 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Starting the first two games of the current Premier League campaign, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has put his name firmly on the list of players who could be in contention to make the upcoming England squad. The right-back took his chances last February with a host of injuries in the Crystal Palace back-line and has been a massive success for Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park. A year ago Bissaka was playing as a winger for the Crystal Palace youth team, but now he has made the right-back position his own, and at the age of 20 the development he has made in this time is remarkable.
Defensively he shows great maturity, as he will stick to his position. Despite getting sent-off in the controversial defeat to Liverpool Bissaka was sensational, playing against one of the best inside forwards in the world of football, he kept Mane of Liverpool quiet. Mane ran out of ideas with the fullback, he couldn't beat him on the inside or the outside, so he kept drifting into the centre of the pitch trying to get on the ball. In Crystal Palace's first game of the season, Bissaka was against Ryan Sessegnon another young man full of potential. Bissaka came out on top, which led to the Palace full-back taking Sessegnon backwards defending against him for large parts if the second half.
With only 2 appearances for England's under-20 team, a call-up to the full National team might look somewhat premature for the Crystal Palace Wonderkid, especially when considering the wealth of options that Southgate has for his right wing back positions. Trippier is perfect in this role for England certainly for his ability to find the right pass and cross, and working on his final distribution will be key for Bissaka and his development. Obviously, with Walker there as well, who can play in this role, it would be hard to see Bissaka breaking into the England set-up right now.
Bissaka would bring energy to England and in a straight challenge against Trent Alexander-Arnold, it would be a close race as to who should get the opportunity.
#5 Mason Holgate
Everton has signed Kurt Zouma on loan from Chelsea, and Yerry Mina on a big deal from Barcelona, but after their win at home to Southampton, Mason Holgate will be the one central defender Marco Silva should be looking a partner for. His partner Michael Keane will likewise be determined to progress and make a return to the international scene, but Holgate is the defender that Southgate should be very much considering to play on the right side of his back three.
Holgate has the ability to play as the right back so he does have talent with the ball at his feet and can play out from the back as well, exactly the way Southgate and England want to play. What Holgate showed when he came on against Wolves and during the home win against Southampton was the ability to organize what was around him. He dropped players in alongside the defenders, covering the outside when Coleman pushed on, and dropped the line deeper and dictating how Everton was going to defend.
He looks to have matured massively and looks like a leader now for his club, his ability in the air for not being the biggest in size is impressive, and that comes from being to see what is around him and reading the game well. The former Barnsley defender will have work to do to stay in the Everton first-eleven this season, but he has the ability in abundance to do so.
Having represented England at both under-20 level and under-21 level, Southgate and his coaching staff will know plenty of what Mason Holgate is about and if he is ready to step up to the senior national team, however after seeing him last season and the early part of this season, it should be the time to give Holgate a chance especially in that right centre back position in the three-man defense.
Could Southgate go back to trying James Tarkowski of Burnley? Right now Holgate would certainly be in the thinking about the upcoming squad to be announced, and playing regularly for his club could move him ahead of ahead of Phil Jones in the reckoning for a call-up. Options defensively aren't massive for Southgate so opting for the Everton defender would give the player the right reward.
