Monday 16 May 2016 08:40, UK
We challenged the Soccer Saturday pundits to name their 23-man England squad for Euro 2016.
England manager Roy Hodgson delayed his provisional squad announcement from Thursday to Monday before Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck was ruled out due to a knee injury suffered in Sunday's 2-2 draw against Manchester City.
Jack Butland and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also miss out through injury, but Jack Wilshere is back in contention while Jordan Henderson is expected to recover from his knee injury in time.
Here's who the Soccer Saturday pundits, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson, Paul Merson and Matt Le Tissier, expect to be called up...
GOALKEEPERS
Charlie's picks: Joe Hart, Fraser Forster, Ben Foster
Charlie says: Joe Hart and Fraser Forster are the obvious one and two, then you can debate the third choice. You'd be very, very unlucky to lose two goalkeepers to injury so I'd be inclined to take a younger guy with potential.
I think he will take Ben Foster because he's been there, seen it and done it, even though his international experiences haven't been the best, but I think there's a development process that should be in place, like what Germany and Spain do.
Young Jordan Pickford from Sunderland is the sort of player I'd take a chance on to give experience to. I'd always say take a chance on a player who has the potential to become the next big prospect.
DEFENDERS
Thommo's picks: Nathaniel Clyne, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand, John Stones, Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka
Thommo says: I think it's pretty settled with the biggest question mark probably over Jagielka because he's been out injured, but his experience for England, including in the qualifiers, should see him included.
The full-backs are really strong and Leighton Baines will probably miss out as he's not played often enough since his injury and there has to be concerns over his fitness.
My back four would be Clyne, Smalling, Stones and Rose. Bertrand is a very consistent player but Rose has edged his way ahead with a superb season for Tottenham.
MIDFIELDERS
Merson's picks: Adam Lallana , Danny Drinkwater, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Jack Wilshere, James Milner, Ross Barkley, Theo Walcott
Merse says: Danny Drinkwater has been absolutely outstanding this season for Leicester. He got his chance in the squad for the last round of friendlies and there would have been no point in picking him if he had no chance of going. He's done nothing wrong and thoroughly deserves his chance.
There are still a few injury doubts for Roy to work through and I see one of the spots as a toss-up between Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson. It has to be one or the other because taking both would be a huge gamble. I've gone for Wilshere because gives you something different. I'm a huge admirer of Ross Barkley even though his form has been very inconsistent of late. However, he's done enough for me to be included.
Finally, it was a straight shootout between Theo Walcott and Andros Townsend for the final place. I like what Townsend's done of late at Newcastle. His form has been very impressive and it's taken him above Raheem Sterling in the pecking order. I'm just siding with Walcott though. He's another whose form has been a bit patchy and he's not been a regular starter for Arsenal, but he does give you options. Walcott's pace from the bench can be a good weapon for England and he can also play as a striker if needed.
STRIKERS
Le Tissier's picks: Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge
Le Tiss says: I think Rooney is a banker not just to be in the squad but to start under Hodgson, but behind the striker in either a supporting three or at the top of a diamond.
If Kane doesn't start up front then that would be incredibly harsh on him. I don't see how you can't have a player who has scored over 20 goals in two successive Premier League seasons leading the line.
Then I see Vardy as an impact option to come off the bench and inject his pace in the game, while Welbeck would have been my other striker if he was fit and I think it's a blow that he isn't able to make it.
Sturridge is ironically the benefactor after he was ruled out. I doubt whether his body would allow him to play regularly in a tournament format but he's certainly got the ability to make him a real asset to the squad.
