Saturday 11 June 2016 07:41, UK
Forster, Barkley and Stones in? Hart, Wilshere and Rooney out? Here's England's best XI to face Russia, according to the stats...
Which eleven England players will make it into Roy Hodgson's starting line-up to face Russia at Euro 2016 on Saturday?
We've taken a look at the WhoScored.com stats-based player ratings from last season - and it seems some current fringe players deserve a shot.
WhoScored.com use over 200 raw statistics to give each player a mark out of 10 in their appearances for their clubs. The average score then gives an indication as to which players have had the most productive seasons.
Only those to have started more than 15 Premier League matches last season have been considered for the starting XI...
Fraser Forster - 6.75 WhoScored.com rating
Just edging Joe Hart (6.70) out of the XI, Fraser Forster enjoyed an impressive return to action following injury. Southampton's form improved markedly with their first choice keeper back available, winning a third of the games Forster started compared to just 30% when he didn't and conceding considerably fewer goals per game (0.94 down from 1.2).
Kyle Walker - 7.19 rating
Easily taking the spot at right-back ahead of Nathaniel Clyne, Kyle Walker is tipped by many to start the tournament after impressing in the most recently friendly with Portugal. It would be little more than he deserves having averaged more tackles (2.6 to 2.5), interceptions (2.8 to 1.6) and key passes (1 to 0.7) per game than the Liverpool man last season.
John Stones - 6.85 rating
Having decided to just take three centre-backs to the Euros, with Eric Dier as cover, Hodgson doesn't exactly have an embarrassment of riches in that position. Stones is still seen as a future star for the national side though and despite having a difficult season with Everton, he outperformed Gary Cahill in terms of tackles (1.4 to 1) and interceptions (1.7 to 1.6) per game last season, as well as boasting a better pass accuracy (88.7% to 83.6%).
Chris Smalling - 7.17 rating
Far and away the top rated centre-back available to Hodgson this season, Chris Smalling was a real success story in a disappointing campaign for Manchester United. The England man played his part in more clean sheets than any other centre-back in the Premier League (17) and is a shoo-in to start this summer, where many others will be worried for their place.
Danny Rose - 7.25 rating
The top rated English defender in the Premier League last season, Danny Rose is rightly considered favourite to take the left-back spot for the Three Lions ahead of the reliable Ryan Bertrand. The Spurs man made more than twice as many tackles per game as his Saints counterpart last season (2.8 to 1.3) and offered more in attack too, ahead of Bertrand in shots, key passes and dribbles.
Eric Dier - 7.06 rating
Thought to be in the driving seat for the holding role in this side despite only breaking into the squad last year, Eric Dier could be key for England this summer. It was Wilshere who was entrusted with that role in qualifying but his cross-city rival undoubtedly offers more solidity in front of the back four, averaging 2.1 tackles, 2.2 interceptions and 2.4 aerial duels won per game last season.
James Milner - 7.21 rating
An unfashionable choice for many, James Milner's longevity in the England squad proves just how highly he has been regarded over the years. Following a move to Liverpool he was quickly instated as vice-captain and registered 11 league assists last season, as well as unsurprisingly impressing defensively with 2.5 tackles per game, earning him a higher rating than team-mates Henderson and Lallana.
Dele Alli - 7.31 rating
After a sensational debut season in England's top-flight Dele Alli's inclusion in the squad was all but a certainty where one year ago the idea would have been laughable. Recording figures of 10 goals and 9 assists having only this year turned 20 was remarkable, while a further 2.2 tackles per game proved he could put himself about too, although perhaps a little too ferociously at times!
Ross Barkley - 7.31 rating
Something of a forgotten man in this England squad, a disappointing end to the season means Ross Barkley is unlikely to be considered for a starting berth. That said, in terms of competition for a place behind the striker the Everton man hasn't had much - with Sterling and Rooney flattering to deceive last season - and the youngster's tallies of 8 goals and 8 assists were highly commendable.
Harry Kane - 7.53 rating
Ending the campaign as the Premier League's top scorer, with 25 goals, Kane's accolade will have gone some way to dampening the disappointment of falling off the pace with Spurs. The 22-year old had at least 40 more shots than any other player in England's top-flight last season (159), testing the keeper 75 times, and enters the tournament in confident mood.
Jamie Vardy - 7.51 rating
Just missing out on the top scorer gong to his potential strike partner, Vardy's 24 goals were enough to fire Leicester to the unlikeliest of titles. He had a direct hand in more goals than any other Premier League player (30 - including 6 assists), but Hodgson is only likely to see the best of the 29-year old through the middle if experiments in a wider berth at international level are anything to go by.
