![]() Photograph: Danehouse Photography Ltd/Getty Images Hoping for a ticket Kalvin Phillips’ injury problems threaten his place in England’s World Cup squad. He has been a key player for Southgate, who would find it hugely frustrating if shoulder surgery deprives him of the City midfielder. ![]() John Stones, who was having a fine game at right centre-back before succumbing to injury against Germany, will go if he is fit. Conor Coady is not an exciting name but Southgate loves the Everton centre-back’s sunny demeanour and knows that he is comfortable in a back three. Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale will probably have to content himself with being third choice, even though his form is good and his distribution is vastly superior to Pope’s.Īt this stage it does not feel as if Southgate is about to spring many surprises. Nick Pope’s kicking is a concern and he gave away a soft goal against Germany, but the Newcastle goalkeeper appears to have established himself as Pickford’s deputy following two consecutive starts. Photograph: Javier García/Shutterstock In the departure lounge ![]() Jack Grealish is viewed as an impact player rather than a regular starter for England. Phil Foden is too gifted to miss out, for all that he needs to become more decisive, and although Southgate tends to see Jack Grealish as more of an impact player than a regular starter the Manchester City winger is more than capable of making chances for the side’s two main finishers, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling. After struggling at left wing-back against Italy, Saka shone on the right wing at Wembley and is a contender to start, though England are not short of creative options. He finished brilliantly after coming off the bench and combining with Bukayo Saka, who also sparkled in his substitute appearance. Southgate loved Mount’s goalscoring cameo against Germany. Jordan Henderson is certain to make the cut if he stays clear of injury and there will always be space for Mason Mount because of his work off the ball, which is enough to make managers stick with the Chelsea midfielder even when he is not playing well. In midfield Declan Rice is a guaranteed starter, while Jude Bellingham banished any concerns over his inexperience with a fabulous display against Germany. On April 22 he was reinstated only to be designated for assignment when the team opted to go with Manny Piña as the backup to Omar Narváez.On the opposite flank Luke Shaw, who was a doubt after losing his place at Manchester United, has surely played his way back in after impressing against Germany. Nottingham’s wild month began in Milwaukee, where he started the season on the injured list after recovering from offseason thumb surgery. Once you’re able to put that aside, the better off you are,” Nottingham said. “You can’t just let that (getting designated) get you down, because while it didn’t work out for you with one organization, it doesn’t mean your tools aren’t attractive to someone else. Get all that? The list of Nottingham’s transactions spells it all out neatly and cleanly, but it’s the story behind the transactions that make his story so compelling. “… Because you never really know what can happen.” No one knows this better than Nottingham, who over a dizzying three-week span recently was a Brewer, a Mariner and a Brewer again before returning for yet another stint with the Mariners. “I’m going to tell him that all you can really do is come to the field happy each day,” Nottingham said. He’ll surely pass along the life lessons he has taken from this season, such as how he dealt with the roller coaster of emotions that go with being wanted, not wanted and a life in limbo that falls somewhere between the two. Nottingham will probably mention the two home runs he hit in one game earlier this month against the defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Someday, Mariners catcher Jacob Nottingham is going to have the most interesting tale about his 2021 season to share with his 5-month-old son, Aiden. ![]()
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