Lee Carsley continues his audition for the England manager’s job against Greece at Wembley on Thursday night with a host of selection issues on his mind.
At the Euros last summer, Gareth Southgate fielded players in unfamiliar positions to get more of the squad’s attacking talent into the side — and they rewarded him by reaching the final. But with Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka in blistering form, will there still be places for Premier League player of the season Phil Foden and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham?
The picture in defence is no clearer, with no out-and-out left back in the squad and injuries to several centre backs.
On top of that, Kyle Walker’s form for Manchester City and England is a worry.
With all that in mind, here our experts pick their XIs to take on Greece — and justify some of their more left-field choices…
Lee Carsley must make some important decisions for his next batch of England auditions
What to do with Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer is perhaps the key question facing him
The interim boss must also work out how to get the most out of Phil Foden in an England shirt
Could Ollie Watkins prove himself in an England shirt or will Harry Kane start as is custom?
Chris Sutton
I’d give John Stones the nod against Greece, even if he hasn’t been starting for Manchester City, alongside the impressive Marc Guehi.
Rico Lewis at left back, because who else is there other than shoehorning in Levi Colwill?
You need to have Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer in this team, so I’ve placed one next to Declan Rice and the other at No 10 where he can do what he’s been doing so impressively for Chelsea ever since he moved to Stamford Bridge.
John Stones should keep his place despite not starting for Manchester City, says Chris Sutton
Fellow City man Rico Lewis is the only logical choice to take the left-back spot this time around
Sami Mokbel
Trent Alexander-Arnold did enough in the last two matches to continue at right back. Kyle Walker has the experience to fill in at left back.
Jude Bellingham as the box-to-box midfielder, next to Declan Rice as the deepest-lying midfielder, allows Lee Carsley to get Phil Foden and Cole Palmer into his team.
Ollie Watkins deserves a shot at replacing Harry Kane in the No 9 role with the captain a doubt.
Trent Alexander-Arnold did enough last time to keep the right-back spot, writes Sami Mokbel
Mokbel believes Bellingham must play deeper to make space for Palmer and Foden
Craig Hope
Get Cole Palmer in his best position at No 10 and go from there.
Anthony Gordon showed in Dublin the threat he provides on the left and Bukayo Saka on the opposite flank gives the team the balance it missed at the Euros.
As for Jude Bellingham, he should be good enough to impact from a deeper midfield role, especially if Declan Rice offers an anchoring presence.
Ollie Watkins, if Harry Kane is injured, is a logical choice but he needs to show more in an England shirt.
Craig Hope watches plenty of Anthony Gordon at Newcastle and backs him over Foden
Ollie Watkins must show more in an England shirt and this could be his perfect chance
Jack Gaughan
Lee Carsley is not averse to using a false nine — as he showed by playing Anthony Gordon in that role when he was Under 21s boss — and if Harry Kane doesn’t recover in time to face Greece, then there is a way to get all of those attacking players into a system.
Selecting Phil Foden there also navigates the issue of who Cole Palmer displaces.
Jack Grealish is perfect for Carsley’s brand of football off the left flank.
Playing Phil Foden as a false nine could make room for an array of talent behind him
Jack Grealish is the perfect fit on the left side for how Carsley plays, writes Jack Gaughan