Less than three months until the Euros begin
Gareth Southgate has announced his England squad for the World Cup qualifiers that the Three Lions will play next week, as England kick off their campaign to qualify for the 2022 competition.
Jesse Lingard returns to the squad, while Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins receives his first call up over Leeds United's Patrick Bamford, and John Stones earns a well deserved recall.
But there is no room for Trent Alexander-Arnold who, to be fair, needs a rest. Jordan Pickford also misses out through injury.
The team face minnows San Marino in their first match before what promise to be sterner tests against Albania and Poland, in the first games that England will have played since last November.
https://twitter.com/England/status/1372548347668525066
Along with being important matches in the qualification process, this is one of the last windows that Southgate will have to test out players and tactics ahead of the the Euros this summer. For those involved these matches represent one of their final opportunities to throw their name into the ring to make it on to the plane to wherever the Euros may be held this summer.
With a number of senior players out injured, such as Jordan Henderson, Joe Gomez and Danny Ings to name just a few, some of the squad will be jumping at the chance to get their opportunity.
This is the beginning of the end in terms of preparation for the Euros this summer. But of course it is the very start of the 'road to Qatar', and it all kicks off with the titanic clash against San Marino at Wembley on 25 March.
