Tottenham boast a number of English stars likely to be on the plane to Russia.
Former England international Joey Barton has told TalkSPORT that he would include four Tottenham Hotspur stars in his England side to start the Three Lions’ first World Cup clash against Tunisia.
Gareth Southgate will keeping a close eye on his England squad and players on the fringes of breaking into the Three Lions’ set-up, as the countdown to Russia nears the three-month mark.
Spurs boast six players that have picked up England caps, in defenders Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose, midfielders Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Harry Winks and of course 35-goal striker Harry Kane.
But Barton believes only Rose, Dier, Alli and Kane would start against Tunisia in just over three months’ time, with Trippier likely to act as Kyle Walker’s back-up and it yet to be seen if Winks will be included in the England squad.
Barton, who picked up one England cap, picked Jack Butland in goal, a defence of Walker, either Chris Smalling or Phil Jones, John Stones and Rose. In midfield, he chose Dier and Jordan Henderson, while Kane and Alli would be joined by Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford in attack.
Of the six, all but Winks are certainties to be in the squad, with the Spurs academy graduate yet to work his way back into the first team. The £20k-a-week ace remains behind Dier, Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama in the pecking order.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
