James Maddison is predicted to make his first begin for England in opposition to Ukraine at Wembley on Sunday – with the Leicester Metropolis playmaker set to line up on the left wing.

There have been widespread requires Maddison to be included within the England World Cup squad however, when he was, harm prevented him taking part in a single minute in Qatar.

Since making his worldwide debut in its place in opposition to Montenegro three-and-a-half years in the past, accidents and choice dilemmas have meant Maddison has missed out on taking part in for his nation.

He has performed solely 35 minutes of senior worldwide soccer in his profession.

However Sky Sports activities Information has been informed his angle in Qatar – remaining optimistic and supportive of his team-mates, even when he didn’t get his probability on the pitch – impressed boss Gareth Southgate and the remainder of the England coaches.

His performances in coaching within the final week have performed likewise and the 26-year-old now seems to be set to begin within the Euro 2024 qualifier in opposition to Ukraine, successful his first cap since 2019.

He’s anticipated to get the nod instead of Jack Grealish, who struggled to make an affect in opposition to a bodily Italian defence, on the left of the entrance three.

Southgate: Toney in our ideas | Bellingham, Henderson match, James out

Southgate mentioned Ivan Toney is “very a lot” in his ideas for the sport in opposition to Ukraine.

The England boss additionally confirmed Jordan Henderson and Jude Bellingham are match to function within the Group C fixture at Wembley, after information of Reece James‘ withdrawal from the squad earlier on Saturday.

On Brentford striker Toney’s potential choice, Southgate mentioned: “He has been excellent. We actually like him and he is very a lot in our ideas.”

Requested concerning the health considerations in his squad, the England boss mentioned: “Jordan hadn’t skilled a lot the earlier week with Liverpool due to an sickness, however he is good to go now.”

On Bellingham, Kalvin Phillips and the remainder of the group, Southgate added: “They’re all good. Clearly, with Kalvin, he performed his first 90 minutes for a short while in opposition to Italy, so we’ll must assess freshness, however that is the identical as the entire squad.

“We have got to get the steadiness proper with continuity and consistency, but in addition freshness.”

Ought to Southgate have made additional call-up for depleted England?

Sky Sports activities Information senior reporter Rob Dorsett:

Recent off the again of a momentous win in Naples – England’s first victory in Italy for 62 years, and one the place Harry Kane made his personal historical past – Gareth Southgate cannot even title a full bench for the house recreation with Ukraine.

He has solely 18 outfield gamers to choose from. Reece James pulling out with a minor hamstring drawback goes alongside Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and Nick Pope’s harm withdrawals, and Luke Shaw’s suspension.

Southgate not often makes late call-ups, however his refusal to take action here’s a unusual one. The England boss has defined it away by saying that it’s totally tough to usher in gamers mid-camp, after they’re less than pace with the place the opposite gamers are.

Usually, he would raid the U21s, however he mentioned as a result of their recreation was the day earlier than the senior staff, that was additionally problematic.

No less than England’s issues in midfield have eased.

Jordan Henderson got here into St George’s Park off-colour as he recovered from sickness, Jude Bellingham limped off in Naples with a knee knock, and Kalvin Phillips performed virtually twice as many minutes in opposition to Italy as he is managed all season for Manchester Metropolis.

Southgate says all three are good to go in opposition to Ukraine, although he’ll take into account the freshness of these gamers. That factors to most likely Henderson and Bellingham lining up alongside Declan Rice, with Phillips rested.

Kane will begin up high once more for positive. He needs to play each minute for England, and surpassing Wayne Rooney’s all-time scoring document hasn’t diminished his starvation for targets. The truth that Tottenham do not play once more till every week on Monday, means there isn’t any logical debate about load-management, though it is going to be his second 90 minutes in three days.

Southgate has no concern with Rashford’s journey to New York

Southgate has defended Marcus Rashford’s determination to jet off to the US after pulling out of the England squad by way of harm.

Few in world soccer are in higher type than the rejuvenated Manchester United ahead, who has scored 19 targets in 25 appearances since his spectacular World Cup displaying.

Qatar noticed Rashford make his first England appearances since his shoot-out miss within the Euro 2020 closing in opposition to Italy, which was adopted by a difficult 12 months when it comes to type and health.

The 25-year-old was known as up for March’s European qualification double-header in opposition to Italy and Ukraine, solely to withdraw after selecting up a knock within the FA Cup quarter-final in opposition to Fulham.

Rashford was in New York when England had been successful 2-1 in Naples, the place Southgate mentioned “when you have not had him that always then it is totally different to being a loss”.

The England boss clarified: “I used to be requested the opposite day did we miss him and it was semantics of phrases, actually. However he is in good type, we might like to have had him as an choice for this camp however we have not acquired him.

“All the time then I’ve to assume what’s the most effective resolution and it is alternatives for different folks.”

Requested about Rashford strolling round New York somewhat than linking up with England, Southgate mentioned: “I would not assume the degrees are fairly the identical!

“As soon as he is dominated out of the squad, it is totally as much as him how he spends his time.

“The gamers do not get quite a lot of breaks, so I believe for all of them, as soon as they have slightly little bit of time… I am positive our gamers will likely be flying off wherever after tomorrow’s recreation. In the event that they get 48 hours with the schedule as it’s, I believe they must make the most of it.”

‘We hope Rashford’s good type can proceed’

It’s not the primary time Rashford has withdrawn from a squad, however Southgate defused the suggestion it might hurt his possibilities of future call-ups.

“We at all times make a judgement on how individuals are taking part in and he is clearly performed loads for us,” he mentioned. “He is over 50 caps now for England and near 50 of these have been since I have been the supervisor.

“I’ve identified him a very long time. I do know what he is able to. It is good to see him within the goalscoring type he is in. When he is getting an opportunity in the meanwhile, you are anticipating him to attain.

“There’s been a interval within the final couple of years the place he isn’t been as sizzling as that and that is been irritating for everyone to see however he’s in good type and we hope that may proceed.”

The place and when is Euro 2024?

Germany are internet hosting the event which is scheduled to happen from June 14 to July 14 2024.

The format would be the similar as Euro 2020 the place the highest two in every of the six closing event teams will proceed to the spherical of 16 together with the 4 finest third-placed finishers.

What do England must qualify from Group C?

The group winners and runners-up advance on to the ultimate event of 24 groups.

The remaining three groups will likely be determined by way of the play-offs, that includes 12 groups chosen primarily based on their efficiency within the 2022/23 Nations League.

England’s Group C schedule…

England will play residence and away in opposition to Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta in Group C. Their fixture record is as follows:

• Mar 26, 2023 – England vs Ukraine
• Jun 16, 2023 – Malta vs England
• Jun 19, 2023 – England vs North Macedonia
• Sep 9, 2023 – Ukraine vs England
• Oct 17, 2023 – England vs Italy
• Nov 17, 2023 – England vs Malta
• Nov 20, 2023 – North Macedonia vs England