REVEALED: Gareth Southgate has ALREADY picked his World Cup squad… with the England boss having spoken to fitness doubts Reece James, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips, who all face an anxious wait to find out if they make the 26-man party
- Gareth Southgate will reveal his England team for the World Cup on Thursday
- Southgate has though already picked his 26-man squad for the trip to Qatar
- The likes of Reece James, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips face an anxious wait
- The trio have been fitness concerns due to injury but hope to make the squad
- Click here for all the latest World Cup 2022 news and updates
Gareth Southgate has already finalised his 26-man squad for the World Cup having made personal checks on his walking wounded.
Reece James, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips – who would in normal circumstances be selected in Southgate’s squad on Thursday – are all facing an anxious wait to discover whether they have been picked for Qatar due to serious fitness concerns.
The England boss is believed to have personally spoken to the players whose selection have been thrown into doubt due to injury in the last few days.
England boss Gareth Southgate has already picked his 26-man squad for the World Cup
Walker and Phillips have declared themselves fit for selection, in what arrives as a big boost to Southgate.
Indeed, Phillips could make his return from shoulder surgery in Wednesday’s EFL Cup game against Chelsea.
However, Sportsmail understands that this week’s cup ties will have little or no bearing on Southgate’s final squad selection as he has already finalised his travelling party for Qatar.
Phillips has played just 14 minutes of football so far this season.
Reece James is a major doubt after limping off for Chelsea at AC Milan in October
Manchester City duo Kyle Walker (left) and Kalvin Phillips are also carrying fitness concerns
Walker is also available for selection after making a miraculous recovery from groin surgery that has amazed Manchester City medics.
James is further behind in his recovery from a serious knee injury – but is out of a protective brace and commenced running.
He is set to step up his rehabilitation programme in the coming days and is hopeful of being fit to play some part in the latter stages of the tournament.
Having checked on James’ fitness in the last few days, it now remains to be seen whether Southgate is prepared to take a risk on the right-back’s availability.
But James is desperate to be part of the World Cup squad and is trying to give himself every opportunity of trying to convince Southgate that he can play a part in Qatar.