Chris Waddle thinks Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson and Everton’s Jordan Pickford are definite England starters

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The Toffees goalkeeper and the Reds captain impressed as Gareth Southgate’s charges thrashed Bulgaria at Wembley.

England legend Chris Waddle has named five players who are “definite starters” for England heading towards Euro 2020, of which one plays for Liverpool and one for Everton.

Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Reds captain Jordan Henderson form part of Waddle’s quintet of players who are the only shoe-ins for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions so far.

Pickford, one of the heroes of the 2018 Russia World Cup, was in between the sticks as England ran out 4-0 winners over Bulgaria at Wembley, while Henderson started and played 67 minutes.

Waddle, on BBC Sport commentary duties, commented on how far ahead the Three Lions are ahead of the other teams in Group A following their third win from three qualifying games.

As well as Pickford and Henderson, Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane are deemed England shoe-ins by Waddle, adding that every other place is “up for grabs” ahead of next summer.

“We haven’t seen a team in this group who has been near England,” Waddle is quoted by BBC Sport as saying. “They are far, far too good for this group. It’s all about how they do at the European Championships next year.

“Pickford, Maguire, Henderson, Sterling and Kane are the definite starters for me. The rest of places are still up for grabs heading into the Euros.”

Up next for England, top of Group A with three wins, 14 goals scored and one conceded, is Tuesday’s qualifier against Kosovo at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.