The Euros are creeping into view, and the Three Lions' squad for the tournament still has plenty of uncertainty surrounding it
Remarkably, Gareth Southgate has just two more games to assess things before he names his England squad for Euro 2024. Those matches are just around the corner too, with the Three Lions set for blockbuster meetings with Brazil and Belgium at Wembley over the coming days.
Southgate has been dealt a challenging hand this international break, largely due to injuries. These fixtures would have provided an ideal chance to get another look at Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, or even try out his Liverpool team-mate Curtis Jones, but both players are unavailable.
The same is true of several potential defensive options, meaning the Three Lions coach will be heading into the tournament not as prepared as he might have been if the fitness gods had been kinder.
Southgate cannot let these frustrations distract him from what is a vitally important few days with his players, though, as there's still plenty of questions he needs to find answers to. Below, GOAL has taken a look at seven of the biggest posers he will be looking to solve over the next two matches…
GettyIs Mainoo ready?
Kobbie Mainoo's breakout season for Manchester United could not have been timed better from an England perspective. With the Three Lions scratching around to find Declan Rice a partner in the heart of midfield, along came Mainoo, who has blown onlookers away with his displays at Old Trafford since November.
While Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Sofyan Amrabat have all struggled at points, the teenager has never let Erik ten Hag down, with his insertion into the starting line-up coinciding with United's most positive run of results this season.
Southgate made the right call moving him up to the seniors from the Under-21 camp. Now, he must be brave and hand Mainoo a start in one of the two games coming up. It may seem like a steep learning curve, but England desperately need to solve their midfield conundrum, and the Three Lions boss needs to test the youngster's mettle ahead of this summer's tournament.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesCan Henderson still start?
Mainoo is not the only midfielder with a lot riding on this international break, though. Ever since his ill-fated move to Al-Ettifaq last summer, Jordan Henderson's position in the England squad has been scrutinised more than any other player's.
Henderson is plying his trade at Ajax these days, and although Southgate has remained faithful to his trusted lieutenant, the jury is still very much out. The ex-Liverpool captain has endured a less-than-stellar start in Amsterdam, facing criticism for his overly safe passing and the side's poor results since his arrival.
Henderson's recent England performances haven't been impressive either, and while he's still almost certain to go to the tournament due to how highly Southgate seems to rate his leadership credentials, how many minutes he will actually play is less certain.
The Three Lions boss will be hoping his blue-eyed boy can silence some of the noise surrounding his continued inclusion with a good performance or two in the coming days. If he struggles again, Southgate will surely have to look elsewhere for an answer to his midfield woes.
Getty ImagesWho's the best Plan B up front?
The thought of Harry Kane getting injured is enough to send a cold shiver down the spine of any England fan. But the Three Lions captain provided an untimely reminder of his own mortality heading into the international break, worryingly limping out of Bayern Munich's Bundesliga win over Darmstadt last weekend.
And while Kane should be fit enough to feature in some capacity against Brazil and Belgium, his knock raises an important question. Namely, just how would Southgate replace his talisman if he went down this summer?
We should have a better idea of his thinking after these games as Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins have both been included in the squad. Whichever one is handed more minutes is likely Kane's most probable replacement.
Saying that, could Southgate end up being a little more creative? Jude Bellingham has been thriving as a withdrawn centre-forward for Real Madrid this season and could feasibly perform a similar role for his country. Southgate did seem to pour cold water on this concept in a recent press conference, though, saying: "Regarding Jude, he is clearly playing as a false nine, so we need a balance between where he is doing well with something different too."
Regardless of what route Southgate wants to go down, getting a better idea of who's best placed to replace an absent Kane is an important goal for the international break.
GettyWho's playing left-back?
For the past few years, England have been in a position of unrivalled strength at the full-back positions, but things are not looking quite as rosy heading into the Euros. Likely first-choice left-back Luke Shaw has barely played this season due to injury, Chelsea's Ben Chilwell has endured a testing campaign for several reasons while Kieran Trippier's form has been patchy.
This leaves the starting spot very much up for grabs, with Chilwell and Joe Gomez the only realistic options deemed fit enough for this most recent squad. It seems likely Southgate will rotate the pair across the two games, with Gomez providing more defensive solidity but not without sacrificing the Chelsea vice-captain's attacking thrust.
If neither impresses, it opens the door for a fit-again Shaw or Trippier to re-stake their claims for a spot in the line-up. There is likely several more twists and turns to come as Southgate decides on his starting left-back.