Predicted England XI to face Montenegro – Sturridge to lead attack

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England will go into the World Cup qualifier against Montenegro this Friday looking for three points which will keep them top of Group H.

England have a fantastic record heading into the game and every reason to be confident as they are unbeaten in World Cup qualification so far.

Montenegro will be a difficult team to play but England should be confident due to a record of 25 goals scored (only Germany have scored more in qualification) and three conceded which has only been bettered by Spain and Belgium.

Here is the side Roy Hodgson could go with for the match.

GK – Joe Hart

Joe Hart will take a lot from Roy Hodgson’s faith in him when plenty were suggesting Hodgson should drop the Manchester City man. Hart will have to be much better than his recent performances for City, because England will take pressure at times against Montenegro and he may have to produce some world class saves.

RB – Kyle Walker

Walker is likely to control the right hand side of defence. His pace means he can get up and down the flank throughout the game although his defensive positioning and basic awareness has to be much better than what we saw in the recent match against Ukraine.

CB – Gary Cahill

Cahill was one of the stand out performer in that match against Ukraine, which means he should start in the back four for this game. Cahill will be fresh as he’s been on the bench for Chelsea lately and he can use this game as a chance to force his way back into the Chelsea first team.

CB – Phil Jagielka

Jagielka doesn’t have the pace that Cahill or other defensive players in the squad possess, but he does have a very good understanding with the Chelsea man. He also offers that vital leadership in the back four and will draw confidence from the impressive start Everton have made to the season.

LB – Leighton Baines

It will be tempting for Hodgson to play Kieran Gibbs but Leighton Baines will start this game. Baines has been a very consistent defender for Everton over a long period of time and he’s shown time and time again how deadly he can be in dead ball situations.

RM – Jack Wilshere

Wilshere may start down either side of the midfield but expect to see him drifting into central positions. He offers strength and aggression to the midfield. He’ll win the ball back and move it on quickly as well as making runs inside the opponent’s final third. He’ll more than likely rotate with Lampard and Gerrard throughout the game.

See also: Hodgson tells Lineker that Manchester United starlet Januzaj could play for England

CM – Frank Lampard

Lampard’s experience will be important in the middle of the team. He can make runs from deep positions, which makes him difficult to pick up and he can sit in, controlling the pace of England’s play as the move the ball out from the back.

CM – Steven Gerrard

Gerrard will most likely play a slightly more withdrawn role, rotating with Lampard and getting forward when he gets the chance to do so. Gerrard is England’s leader and he’ll be a very important figure if England are under pressure or go behind early in the game.

LM – Danny Welbeck

Welbeck is likely to start down the left because it’s a role he’s played well for club and country over the past year. Baines will have to get forward and create more width but Welbeck offers a greater attacking threat down that side of the pitch than someone like James Milner.

ST – Wayne Rooney

Rooney will start in behind the main striker, dropping off into the midfield and going wider if England are struggling down either side of the pitch. He could rotate consistently throughout the game with Danny Welbeck on the left hand side and he can drop off when Lampard and Gerrard are caught high up the pitch.

ST – Daniel Sturridge

Liverpool’s forward has been one of the most lethal in the Premier League this season. Sturridge has six goals in seven games and he too can drop off into wider positions if needed although he’s England’s main goal threat in this game.

What do you think? Should Townsend or Milner be starting out wide?

image: © geetarchurchy