Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard is set to return for England, but does this mean Manchester United youngster Tom Cleverley will miss ouit?
England manager Roy Hodgson is set to make a number of changes for the match against Poland after England’s dominance against San Marino last Friday. What are they likely to be and will it affect the team?
It’s an old saying in football that you don’t change a winning side but England boss Roy Hodgson is likely to make five or six changes to the team that played San Marino for the more difficult clash against Poland. Some players were rested for the San Marino clash and one of the most experienced players in the side was banned from playing in the match.
The first set of changes are likely to come in the defence of the side. Expect to see two new full backs with Glen Johnson set to replace Kyle Walker at right back and Ashley Cole expected to return at left back. Walker is carrying a knock after the San Marino game while Cole should return after being rested. Joleon Lescott is also expected to play in the centre of the defence alongside Phil Jagielka.
This shouldn’t have too much of a massive impact on the defence because these are all players who have played together regularly in the past. England will have two centre backs competing to hold down their place in the side which should mean extra determination while the inclusion of Johnson and Cole will mean a little extra pace in the wide areas of the pitch.
Steven Gerrard is expected to return after he was banned from playing against San Marino. The Liverpool captain could well take back the armband from Wayne Rooney and he is a crucial figure whenever he plays for club and country. Gerrard will have a massive role to play if England decide to go with a 4-5-1 formation and he will have to keep the midfield watertight if Hodgson opts for the more familiar 4-4-2.
Danny Welbeck is expected to miss out in favour of Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe. Defoe has been a regular in the Spurs team this season and he is one of the highest scoring players for Andre Villas-Boas. The fact that England have solid options in the wide areas means that Welbeck is unlikely to be asked to play a similar wide role that he sometimes has to for Manchester United.
It is a harsh move but ultimately Welbeck will have to be sacrificed for the overall shape of the team. Defoe may have to play on his own which means his pace is a vital asset as England are bound to play long balls down the channels which he will have to chase and hold up to bring others into play. If he plays with someone else then he will hover on the very edge of the defence ready to race in behind to try and get some one on one situations.
Elsewhere there shouldn’t be too many major changes because Hodgson is an experienced enough manager to know that drastically changing every single area of a side is dangerous and could leave England with egg on their face come the end of the evening.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
