As the European Championship qualifiers come to an end and England’s spot in pot one of the draw is cemented, thoughts naturally turn to the potential composition of Gareth Southgate’s squad for next summer's tournament.
There are gimmes, players that barring injury or suspension, will undoubtedly be in Germany with the Three Lions; Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford and Harry Maguire all being mainstays of the side that breezed through qualification.
But there are those that a year ago, in the midst of the World Cup, would have been highly favoured to be in contention but twelve months later, look long shorts to be included.
Of the 26-man squad that travelled to the Middle East in 2022, six players have failed to make a single appearance in any of England’s 10 games since.
So, what of these forgotten men, players that were selected for Qatar but have since fallen swiftly out of favour? With one international break between now and the tournament’s start, does the door remain open for any of them to make an unlikely return?
Let's start with the simple ones...
It is fair to assume that Conor Coady’s international career has been and gone. A fine Premier League defender for many years and a much-liked member of two squads, his career looks to be entering the twilight years. Having lost his place in the Everton side to Michael Keane in the second half of last season and since enduring an injury-disrupted start to life at Leicester City in the Championship, his ambitions will realistically lie in helping the Foxes make a Premier League return as opposed to adding to his 10 international caps.
The prospects look similarly bleak for Eric Dier, with injury curtailing his 22/23 season and new Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou opting for his trusted centre back partnership of Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven. Injury to the latter might give Dier his chance to stake a claim, but the emergence of Levi Colwill and Marc Guehi in particular make his chances of heading to Germany slim.
Nick Pope is in excellent form for Newcastle United and whilst you can read less into the usage of a goalkeeper over a ten-game period, that Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Johnstone were given starting roles in England’s two friendly matches will worry the Toon’s number one.
But there are others whose continued exile from the national side continues to provoke debate and consternation.
Then there are the ones that are not so clear cut...
Ben White is a strange one. Called up to the Euro 2020 squad to replace the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, his international career was seemingly on an upward trajectory with his versatility making him an attractive option across defence and central midfield.
His performances for title-challenging Arsenal saw him named in the Qatar World Cup squad until his withdrawal due to “personal reasons” saw his time cut short, as rumours of a disagreement with coaching staff briefly swirled.
That proved to be his last act on the international stage, with injuries to John Stones and poor club form of Harry Maguire not tempting Southgate to bring him back into the fold.
The opposite is true of Mason Mount whose lack of post-World Cup caps is due solely to his poor form.
After finishing last season with 3 goals and 2 assists, Southgate would have been hoping for a marked improvement following his move to Manchester United in the summer.
But form and fitness continue to plague him, and the continued development of Jude Bellingham, presence of Phil Foden and emergence of Cole Palmer mean that even a return to his best will not guarantee him a ticket to Germany.
Most surprisingly the continued absence of Raheem Sterling continues to loom large over the famously loyal Southgate.
His decision to award Palmer his maiden cap against Malta appears to signal a changing of the guard in England’s wide areas.
Although a key figure throughout Southgate’s reign and one of his most consistent tournament performers, Sterling’s impressive start to the season continues to fail to appeal to the England manager. With five goals and an assist in 12 Premier League games this season, including a stunning free kick at St James’ Park this weekend, it is hard to imagine what more the former Manchester City winger could do to muscle himself in.
The second half of the season will produce surprises, it always does. Reece James and Ivan Toney, each with one post-World Cup substitute appearances to their names, will be hoping to overcome their issues and use the remainder of the season to force their way in. The same is true for Rico Lewis and Jarred Bowen who have both made one start in the qualifying, who will be hoping to continue their respective club form to ensure their inclusion.
But as we look ahead to two friendly games in the new year, it is hard to envisage a scenario where any of the forgotten men are Germany bound come June.
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Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons (مهدی مریزاد)
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