SHOOT’s England XI to beat Slovenia on Tuesday evening

Gareth Southgate got his reign as interim England manager off to a winning start courtesy of a 2-0 win over Malta at the weekend.

First-half goals from Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge and Tottenham’s Dele Alli secured a comfortable win for the hosts, who were watched by more than 80,000 fans inside Wembley on Saturday evening.

The Three Lions top their 2018 World Cup qualifying group with two wins out of two, and go into their match in Slovenia on Tuesday optimistic of recording a third straight victory in the group.

Southgate handed a debut to Manchester United winger Jesse Lingard and recalled Theo Walcott for his first England appearance in just under a year against Malta, while there were also starts for Ryan Bertrand, Gary Cahill, and under-fire captain Wayne Rooney.

However, England’s lethargic second-half performance on Saturday night has called into question what Southgate’s team selection might be for the qualifier in Ljubljana, with a few members of the starting eleven under pressure to deliver a performance if picked on Tuesday.

Here at SHOOT, we’ve picked an England XI that we believe will beat Slovenia on Tuesday night…

GK – Joe Hart

Since making the move to Torino on loan from Manchester City, Joe Hart has kept two clean sheets and conceded just three times in five matches, and remains England’s number one ‘keeper.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper had very little to do on Saturday, although did make a decent save down low to his left to preserve England’s two-goal lead.

Hart will expect a slightly busier evening on Tuesday in Slovenia.

RB – Kyle Walker

Kyle Walker once again looked like a good attacking threat for England on Saturday, although his final ball let him down on too many occasions.

However, the 26-year-old remains England’s number one choice at right-back, and that position has strengthened following the injury to Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne.

The Tottenham defender has started the season well for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, and will continue to try and make the England right-back slot his own on Tuesday night.

CB – John Stones

He is fast becoming England’s number one centre-back, and has started the last two internationals under both Southgate and previous boss Sam Allardyce.

The 22-year-old was rarely challenged by the Malta frontline and, although he looked good when in possession, stiffer challenges will come to test the young defender’s readiness for international football.

The Manchester City defender, barring injury, will start again for England on Tuesday.

CB – Gary Cahill

Gary Cahill’s inclusion in the starting eleven on Saturday was seen as a surprise by many given his indifferent start to the season for Chelsea.

However, the 30-year-old does deserve time to prove his worth to Southgate given his dependability at the heart of the England defence in the last few years.

Cahill didn’t do too much wrong on Saturday, although did give away a silly foul in a dangerous area, and is likely to keep his place on Tuesday.

LB – Danny Rose

Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand was given the nod ahead of Danny Rose on Saturday, although the Saints man was forced off after just 19 minutes due to injury.

Tottenham defender Rose has been England’s first-choice left-back for a number of months, although he has only just recovered from injury, hence Bertrand’s inclusion ahead of him on Saturday.

However, Rose came on and did a decent job at full-back, and will be called-upon by Southgate to start on Tuesday night.

CDM – Jordan Henderson

Jordan Henderson was England’s best player on Saturday, and looks at home in the central midfield role.

The Liverpool skipper has started the season well for the Reds, and you can see that he’s building in confidence as the season goes on.

Although tougher challenges are to follow, Henderson could be a main stay in that England midfield for years to come.

An England captain in the future?

CDM – Eric Dier

Tottenham’s Eric Dier should come into the side at the expense of captain Wayne Rooney.

Manchester United’s Rooney was disappointing alongside Henderson on Saturday, and didn’t do enough to suggest that the midfield role is the way forward for the England captain, although what the way forward is remains very much unclear.

Dier was surprisingly excluded from the starting eleven on Saturday, having been a regular since his debut last year, but I expect him to regain his place on Tuesday.

LW – Jesse Lingard

Jesse Lingard was a surprise inclusion in Southgate’s starting eleven, but he repaid the trust the former Middlesbrough manager placed in him with a good performance on Saturday.

Although he didn’t get on the scoresheet (he was brilliantly denied by Malta keeper Andrew Hogg though), the Manchester United winger was bright throughout the 90 minutes, and used his pace effectively to get in behind on occasion.

He outshone Theo Walcott on the other side, and should keep his place for Tuesday’s match.

CAM – Dele Alli

One of England’s most in-form players, Dele Alli once again showed why he could be a Three Lions regular for many years to come after another decent display against Malta.

The 20-year-old looked good in the number 10 role behind Daniel Sturridge, and his technical ability and vision could really work wonders with any of the forwards in the squad should he be allowed to flourish in that role.

Although he is guilty of squandering the odd great chance, as illustrated again on Saturday, Alli is both the present and future of England, and needs to be played in his best position regularly to reap the rewards.

RW – Marcus Rashford

I was disappointed with Theo Walcott on Saturday, as I felt that this was a real chance for him to stamp his authority on a starting berth following injuries to Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling.

However, he didn’t do enough during the game, and was replaced by the man who should start ahead of him on Tuesday – Marcus Rashford.

The Manchester United starlet was unlucky not to start on Saturday and, although out on the right is probably not his best position, he caused more than enough problems when he played out wide for England in the Euro’s, and indeed when he came on against Malta.

He’s high on confidence and in great form, so should start on Tuesday.

ST – Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge marked his return to the England starting line-up with a well-taken header on Saturday, his eighth international goal.

It wasn’t just his goal that was impressive though, as Sturridge looked like the player we’ve seen countless times in the past. He was alert, quick, and agile in the final third, and could have added to his tally.

Although he hasn’t played much for Liverpool this year, the 27-year-old looks sharp, and should lead the line for England on Tuesday.