Shoot’s England XI to beat Malta on Saturday

Gareth Southgate takes charge of his first game as England manager on Saturday, when the Three Lions host Malta at Wembley Stadium.

The former Middlesbrough manager has taken over on an interim basis after the departure of Sam Allardyce, whose 67-day reign ended on September 27 in controversial circumstances.

One of Southgate’s first tasks was to select a 23-man squad for the visit of Malta, and then the trip to Slovenia next week.

The 46-year-old made some surprise inclusions in his original squad, notably Glen Johnson and Jesse Lingard, but an injury to the former means that Burnley’s Michael Keane will take his place.

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling has also picked up a knock, so Andros Townsend returns to the fold for the first time since May this year.

Attention now turns to what Southgate’s first starting line-up will be, but here is the England starting XI that SHOOT believe will beat Malta on Saturday…

GK – Joe Hart

Although Joe Hart made a few errors in the summer at Euro 2016, the Torino goalkeeper is still England’s number one.

Despite making an error on his debut for the Italian side, he’s gone on to concede just twice in four matches, keeping two clean sheets along the way.

The 29-year-old started Allardyce’s first and only game in charge against Slovakia last month and, although Fraser Forster and Tom Heaton have started the season well for Southampton and Burnley respectively, it would be a surprise to see Hart dropped.

RB – Kyle Walker

Tottenham’s Kyle Walker was England’s best player at the Euros and, although that was not a difficult accolade to achieve, he continued to provide the Three Lions with an attacking threat.

He has also started the season well for Spurs, starting in all seven of their Premier League games so far, and appears to have got the better of Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne in the battle to be England’s number one right-back.

No Clyne in this squad due to injury only strengthens Walker’s grip on the right-back slot.

CB – John Stones

Allardyce picked John Stones in his only game in charge against Slovakia last month, despite Roy Hodgson choosing Manchester United’s Chris Smalling over him during the Euros.

However, Stones’ excellent start to life under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City strengthens his position in the centre of defence.

He’s started in all seven of City’s league games this season, and he’s beginning to look like the defender that his potential has always illustrated.

CB – Chris Smalling

Chelsea’s Gary Cahill got the nod in both the Euros under Hodgson and the Slovakia game under Allardyce, but I’d go for Chris Smalling on Saturday.

Cahill, 30, has not had the best starts to the season for Chelsea and made a couple of high-profile errors, notably against Arsenal a few weeks ago, whereas Smalling has looked solid in the middle of the Manchester United defence since returning to the side.

As much as Cahill is the tried and tested at the back for England, Smalling deserves a chance to stake his claim for a regular starting berth.

LB – Danny Rose

Danny Rose has made the left-back spot his own in the last few months, and is likely to keep that position for the visit of Malta.

He’s another player who has benefited greatly from Tottenham’s good season last time out, and indeed their great start to this campaign.

Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand is the other left-back in the squad, and has done well for the Saints, but I don’t expect him to dislodge Rose from the starting eleven.

CM – Eric Dier

A regular in the England side since his debut against Spain in November last year, Eric Dier will likely retain his place in the centre of midfield.

He’s started five of Tottenham’s seven Premier League games, and looks to have started this season much in the same way he performed in the last.

He’s a key player for England in that role in the middle of the park, and will add to his 12 caps on Saturday.

CM – Jordan Henderson

He’s a player who splits opinion among a number of England fans, but Jordan Henderson has started the season well for Liverpool, and thus deserves a starting role on Saturday.

The 26-year-old scored a wonder goal against Chelsea last month, and appears to be playing with a lot of confidence in an exciting Liverpool team.

Him and Dier could strike up a good partnership in the middle for England, and one that could be here to stay for a number of years.

CM – Dele Alli

Dele Alli is one of the most in-form players in the squad, and should get the nod ahead of captain Wayne Rooney.

The Spurs man scored a good goal against Manchester City last weekend, and appears to have bounced back well from a disappointing Euros.

By playing Alli in the centre of midfield, it gives Southgate the option of switching between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 formation, as Alli can play in the number 10 role behind the forward.

RW – Theo Walcott

No Raheem Sterling or Adam Lallana offers up starting berths, and one of these should go to Arsenal’s Theo Walcott.

His pace is frighteningly difficult for opposition defenders to play against, and he appears to have got his confidence back thanks to five goals in nine appearances for the Gunners so far this season.

A fully firing and confident Walcott is a very tough prospect for any defence; he’s done enough to warrant a start on Saturday.

LW – Jamie Vardy

Although Jamie Vardy did not appear in the 1-0 win over Slovakia, despite it being a game that was crying out for him, he should get a chance against Malta on Saturday.

The Leicester City man can cause all sorts of problems with his pace and relentless energy upfront, and would complement Walcott on the other side.

A strength this squad possesses is pace – it should be used in abundance at Wembley at the weekend.

ST – Marcus Rashford

It’s a tricky choice between Marcus Rashford and Daniel Sturridge, but I’d go for the Manchester United forward.

The 18-year-old is full of confidence having broken into Jose Mourinho’s starting eleven, and having netted four times already this season.

Add to that the fact that Sturridge has only netted in the EFL Cup this season – a brace against Bolton Wanderers – and hasn’t featured as much as he would have liked in the Premier League, and all signs point to Rashford getting the nod.

Surprisingly left out by Allardyce for the Slovakia match, not only should Rashford be in the squad, but he should be in the starting eleven.