England player ratings

After a tense wait, Gareth Southgate has finally named his 26-man England squad with the Qatar World Cup just days away. While some players represent automatic picks and others have raised eyebrows by being included, Express Sport takes you through the entire contingent in terms of how their season has gone so far…Jordan Pickford – 9/10Incredibly, one has to scan up the Premier League table as high as third-place Newcastle to find a team that has conceded less than 16th-place Everton this season. Pickford’s heroics have played a huge part in that, maintaining momentum from last term’s relegation escape to put in more top performances and cement himself as Southgate’s undisputed No 1.Luke Shaw – 7/10The left-back, who scored in last year’s Euro 2020 final, is set for a crucial Three Lions role after Ben Chilwell’s recent hamstring injury. England fans can take encouragement from the fact that Shaw has hit form just in time at Manchester United, having started the campaign playing second fiddle to Tyrell Malacia. Kieran Trippier – 10/10A key part of Newcastle’s success and a longstanding favourite of Southgate’s, Trippier has racked up four goal contributions from full-back so far this season while featuring in every Premier League game for the high-flying Magpies. With Reece James out injured and Kyle Walker only just returning, the 32-year-old could be England’s priority pick at right-back. JUST IN: England squad LIVE: Gareth Southgate to announce 26 players in Qatar World Cup team at 2pm Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have both had good seasons for Tottenham and Dortmund respectively (Image: GETTY)John Stones – 6/10The 28-year-old has had to settle for a peripheral role this season with the likes of Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji all vying for minutes at Manchester City. Although still reliable when called upon, Stones’ lack of football will be something of a concern and the fact he’ll probably start in Qatar highlights the extent of Southgate’s defensive dilemma. Jude Bellingham – 10/10The former Birmingham City academy star still has almost eight months left of his teenage years but he’s virtually certain to be in the starting XI at the World Cup. A string of domineering performances for Borussia Dortmund have made sure of that, with nine goals and two assists from 20 games in midfield. Declan Rice – 7/10Perhaps a victim of his own sky-high standards, Rice has had a relatively quiet campaign compared to what England fans have become accustomed to. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old remains the crown jewel of West Ham’s team and a spot alongside Bellingham could well have his name on it in Qatar.  Phil Foden has been in exciting form for Man City this season (Image: Getty)Bukayo Saka – 9/10With 10 goal contributions in 13 Premier League games, Saka is absolutely flying for table-toppers Arsenal. Furthermore, his electric performances during the last round of international fixtures could see him barge his way into Southgate’s starting XI. Raheem Sterling- 6/10The Jamaican-born England international made a big step in the summer by ditching Man City to sign for Chelsea. He’s not exactly set the Premier League alight since, but with 79 caps to his name, he’s the most experienced player in Southgate’s ranks which could put him in a direct battle with Saka to start. Mason Mount – 6/10Although his numbers aren’t anything to write home about this term, Southgate may take confidence in the fact that Mount has played a lot of football at club level. The Chelsea star is a long-time favourite of the England boss and while his spot on the plane was never in doubt, a place in the starting line-up isn’t quite so assured. Aaron Ramsdale – 9/10The 24-year-old is a trusted member of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal squad, conceding the joint-fewest goals in the league this campaign. That should stand him in good stead to take up the No 2 spot behind Pickford, despite having just three England caps to his name. Trent Alexander-Arnold – 4/10Liverpool have endured a tough season defensively and, whether fairly or unfairly, Alexander-Arnold has often been used as the scapegoat. Prior squad selections suggest that Southgate isn’t entirely convinced by his defending, despite all he offers going forward, but injuries at right-back have created an easier route to Qatar. Marcus Rashford – 7/10Electric in spells, Man Utd fans have often been left thinking that Rashford is back to the calibre of forward that bagged 17 Premier League goals in 2019/20. The 25-year-old will have to pick it up if he’s to match that total, but Southgate seemingly values his ability to play out wide or up top and the Red Devils academy product has certainly earned his spot on the plane. Jack Grealish – 6/10A tough debut season at Man City was followed by a lacklustre start to the current campaign, but Grealish is a player that finally seems to be regaining his mojo. A sequence of confident performances under Pep Guardiola could make him a dark horse in Qatar, despite his days as the key playmaker at Aston Villa fading further into memory. Conor Coady – 8/10Everton boss Frank Lampard claims that Coady’s arrival, along with former Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski, has revolutionised the dressing room. It seems to have revolutionised their defensive record too, with just 14 goals conceded in 14 games, and Coady’s ability to play in a back-three or a back-four gave Southgate more incentive to put him on the plane.Nick Pope – 8/10Completing a strong crop of England goalkeepers is Newcastle United stopper Pope. Like Trippier, the 30-year-old has been an integral part of the Magpies’ ascent of the Premier League table, but poor showings in the last round of Nations League fixtures could see him demoted to third in the pecking order. DON’T MISS: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp breaks silence on FSG sale after Carabao Cup win over Derby Marcus Rashford has impressed under Erik ten Hag this season (Image: Getty)Harry Maguire – 4/10The good news for Maguire is that he hasn’t made many mistake-related headlines this term. That’s where it ends, however, as the 29-year-old has lost his place at Man Utd and with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez performing strongly, there appears to be little chance of winning it back. Eric Dier – 6/10A regular in the Premier League under Tottenham boss Antonio Conte, Dier’s versatility will give Southgate options in Qatar. The 28-year-old’s performances at club level have been up and down, but the ability to play in a back-three and 47 caps’ worth of experience will have helped the defender’s cause. Callum Wilson – 8/10It was touch and go whether the Newcastle star would be included in the 26-man squad, even though his form at club level has certainly warranted it. Injuries have plagued parts of Wilson’s career but it never takes him long to get back up to speed. With six goals and two assists in 10 Premier League games this season, the 30-year-old will hope to add to his solitary England goal at the World Cup.  Bukayo Saka is in contention to start for England in Qatar (Image: Getty)Kalvin Phillips – 5/10It’s almost impossible to judge Phillips’ season so far, given that he’s only played a handful of minutes since ditching Leeds for Man City. The midfielder only made his comeback against Chelsea on Wednesday, but having played such a prominent role at Euro 2020, Southgate has called on him again for the trip to Qatar. Conor Gallagher – 6/10The 26th member of Southgate’s World Cup squad, not many were talking about Gallagher before the squad was announced on Thursday. Ruben Loftus-Cheek was also in contention but his younger Chelsea team-mate has got the nod after impressing when given chances by Thomas Tuchel, and later Graham Potter this campaign.