Midfielders

I think this is the area where Hodgson will mix his selections up the most. Adam Johnson has just moved to Sunderland where he should get a lot more first-team football, only increasing his chances on the international scene. He has obvious talents and was wasted as a bit-part player at Manchester City, hopefully now that he will be playing week-in, week-out he will really show his potential for England.

Michael Carrick is another who is in line for an England recall. Despite his pre-Euro stance of not wanting a call-up if he was to be used as a substitute, Hodgson has since held talks with the Manchester United midfielder and it seems differences have been put aside as Carrick played, and even captained the England side which beat Italy 2-1 in a friendly earlier this month.

Fellow United midfielder Tom Cleverley also looks set to be included. Despite showing glimpses of his talents 12 months ago, Cleverley’s impact last season was hampered by injuries. But after playing and impressing for Team GB in the Olympics, making his senior debut for England versus Italy in August and becoming a first-choice regular for the Red Devils so far this term, things are looking promising for the young midfielder.

In fact, Hodgson gave us some indication of who he was looking at for these qualifiers with the friendly against Italy. A. Johnson, Carrick, and Cleverley, (as well as Cahill and Walker) were the only ones that completed 90 minutes that night and must have played knowing that they were in very strong contention for the qualifiers.

Carrick’s inclusion is  near enough a certainty considering the absence of the injured Scott Parker while although Gareth Barry has just returned to fitness, this set of fixtures has surely come just too soon for him considering the length and seriousness of his abdominal injury he suffered in May.

Frank Lampard also looks set to be back in the equation following his injury that kept him out of the Euro’s. Steven Gerrard, who was named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament, should also be in the squad. Whether these two will play together in the middle is another question though, much has been debated about the need for a new generation – and with young players such as Jake Livermore and Jack Rodwell both sniffing around the international scene, there have been calls for out with the old, in with the new. But both Lampard and Gerrard have started this season well, and fully deserve their place in this squad, and although they are ageing it is clear to see that they will be integral to England’s plans in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup at least. They both might not play at this World Cup but they will be very important in reaching it.

Ashley Young, Theo Walcott and James Milner all represented England in Poland and Ukraine and will no doubt be in the squad again and rightly so. Liverpool duo Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson look likely to be overlooked on this occasion while Aaron Lennon also looks likely to be frozen out again. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s impressive youngster Ryan Bertrand appears to be an outside bet of creeping into the squad following his staggering development under Roberto Di Matteo.

Click HERE to head to PAGE THREE…