Gareth Southgate to name five standby players in addition to 23-man England World Cup squad

By Rob Dorsett & Lyall Thomas

Image: Gareth Southgate will reveal his squad on Wednesday afternoon

England manager Gareth Southgate is planning to name up to five players on standby in addition to his 23-man World Cup squad, Sky Sports News understands.

The England squad is expected to be announced on Wednesday afternoon, which you can watch live on Sky Sports News from 1pm, and five players are to be asked to delay their holidays and potentially train with the England team.

Sky sources understand West Brom's Jake Livermore is one of those players, while another source has indicated Ben Chilwell, Jadon Sancho and Ryan Sessegnon could also be among those notified.

England will meet for the first time at St Georges Park on Monday but Manchester United and Chelsea players named in the 23 will be given extra time off to recover after this Saturday's Cup Final.

England boss Gareth Southgate is staying coy on who has made his 23-man World Cup squad

Any Liverpool players in the squad will join up even later because of the Champions League final on May 26, so the likes of Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and even Trent Alexander-Arnold, if called up, are unlikely to train with England until Monday, June 4.

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In their absence, Southgate wants to ensure he still has full numbers for meaningful training sessions.

But there are question marks over whether Joe Hart and Jack Wilshere, who are dealing with the disappointment of not making the main 23, will be happy to train for up to two weeks with the squad knowing they will not be going to Russia unless there is an injury.

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One source has told Sky Sports News that Fulham wonder-kid Ryan Sessegnon has not had a call regarding the England senior squad but a place on the standby list is not out of the realms of possibility.

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