ENGLAND WORLD CUP WATCH

GOOD WEEK

PHIL FODEN

IF GARETH SOUTHGATE could choose one player to replicate his club form in an England shirt, it would be Foden. How different he looks stretching the play, without having to wonder whether he’s getting in the way of an onrushing wing-back. His three goals were examples of his superb instinct to find space, and having the speed to make it count. Bukayo Saka is in fine form himself, but he will not dislodge this version of Foden from the line-up.

JARROD BOWEN

BOWEN was one of 12 players in the most recent 26-man squad not to play a minute of football against Italy and Germany, and his place was under threat from Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. But a first league goal of the season against Wolves on Saturday should be the boost he needs to kick on for Qatar.

CALLUM WILSON

IVAN TONEY will tell you how hard it is to get even a minute up front for England, but Wilson’s excellent response to £60million Alexander Isak coming in at Newcastle shows just how little he’s prepared to sit around not playing.

BAD WEEK TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD

IF JURGEN KLOPP was convinced that Alexander-Arnold is a fine defender, then no one told Brighton. Mentally, he looks shot after a fortnight of being conspicuous by his absence from the England squad and relentless debate over whether this supremely talented player can do the job others in his position consider their primary task. Leandro Trossard ran him ragged and Brighton could have been four up inside 20 minutes as they repeatedly targeted the Liverpool right. Until Alexander-Arnold gives them a reason not to, Liverpool’s

opponents will keep going at him.

ERIC DIER

THE Tottenham centre back only got back into the England set-up last month for the first time in nearly two years, but struggled in both matches and was then given the run around by Gabriel Jesus on Saturday. But the bar is not all that high for an England centre back at present.

JORDAN HENDERSON

HE WAS reduced to a bit-part player at Euro 2020 last summer, though was extremely valuable off the field. But his time looks to be up for England, especially with Jude Bellingham — who captained Borussia Dortmund at just 19 on Saturday — looking imperious.