World Cup 2018: Analysing England's 23-man squad

Midfielders

Henderson's no-nonsense approach is what England needs the most

Jordan Henderson received plenty of praise during Liverpool's first leg against Roma in the UEFA Champions League semi-final, and rightly so. As a player who sticks to the instructions of the coach no matter what the situation is, Henderson will be a valuable asset as a central midfielder.

The Liverpool captain might not be the flashiest of players, but his no-nonsense approach to the game will be vital when things go south for the three lions.

Eric Dier has been part of Tottenham's squad for a long time now, and has become the backbone of their entire midfield. With England, he will be performing the same role - transitioning from defense to attack - alongside Henderson.

Like Henderson, Dier doesn't have the stats to boost his career but the difference he brings to the squad with his pressing and ability to hold the ball is immense. Against the faster teams, Dier will be the difference as he has to keep a calm mind and not just hoof the ball up-field.

Alli's dribbling combined with pace adds much-needed vigour to the midfield

Another Tottenham midfielder who finds his way into the squad is Dele Alli, and he has the stats to back it up. His antics and diving on the pitch might not make him a favorite among fans, but his quality on the ball cannot be ignored.

Alongside Kane, Alli is Tottenham's most forward player and often finds his way into the box. His dribbling in the box is another major asset for drawing penalties and will be greatly appreciated. WIth 14 goals and 14 assists across all competitions, he is as creative as he is lethal in front of goal.

The only downside is his discipline as he has a knack for accumulating cards and England cannot afford to lose him during the important stages of the tournament.

A stellar season at United has helped Lingard get on the plane to Russia

Jesse Lingard's inclusion in the squad cannot be protested by even the staunchest of Manchester United haters, as the 25-year-old has become a revelation with his goal scoring knack in important games.

His trademark late run into the box to poach rebounds and blocks has been a staple of his life at United, and Southgate will be hoping for more of the same. He has scored 14 goals and 5 assists across all competitions and considering his limited starting time it is well and truly remarkable.

Ashley Young and Fabian Delph are two more names included in the list, but they have played most of the season as defenders for their respective Manchester sides. Southgate is not likely to use them as make-shift defenders considering the pool of defenders at his disposal.

As a result, they should be content to serve as defensive midfielders in the late stages of the game when a lead has to be held on to. Ashley Young's crossing ability makes him that much more of an effective sub from the bench.

Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the final midfielder in the roster, and he impressed during England's friendlies earlier this year. He is a defensive midfielder by build with the mind of an attacking entity and offers a new dimension of play compared to the others in the list.

Whether he will start a game remains to be seen, but this will be a wonderful experience for the talented youngster.