With England’s June 13 opener against Croatia fast approaching, Gareth Southgate‘s squad are facing last chance saloon to force a way into his starting eleven for the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 curtain-raiser.
Southgate gave a handful of fringe players a run out against Austria on Wednesday night in Middlesbrough, as the Three Lions clinched a confidence-boosting 1-0 win at the Riverside Stadium.
Here, Sportsmail’s DOMINIC KING assesses the England players who have enjoyed ups or endured downs following the victory on Teesside.
Gareth Southgate cast his eye over his England squad for Wednesday’s win over Austria
UPS
Jack Grealish
September seems a lifetime ago but it is worth revisiting the first press conference of the international season when Southgate, rather bluntly, said the Aston Villa forward was not in his plans for games against Iceland and Denmark because his output last season wasn’t high enough.
Look at him now. There has been anxiety around whether Grealish, 25, would be fit for the tournament but he allayed concerns with a super performance.
He’s got that rare ability to generate a hum of anticipation when he sets off on a run. He’s different to everyone else in the squad.
Jack Grealish proved once again that he belongs at international level with a fine performance
Bukayo Saka
It has been noticeable in recent England camps the esteem in which Gareth Southgate holds this shooting star and the excitement he feels for him.
The head coach has always spoken about him positively and it was apparent last week his place in the 26-man party was secure.
Southgate stands by young talent and wants to provide an environment in which it thrives. He never had any concerns about Saka’s ability or temperament but, even so, he would have been thrilled with what he saw at the Riverside Stadium.
The 19-year-old’s winning goal was the icing on the cake.
Bukayo Saka is another England youngster to thrive in the environment Southgate has created
Jude Bellingham
The youngest player, at 17 years and 338 days, to start for England since Wayne Rooney (17 years and 321 days) in Liechtenstein in September 2003.
We keep reinforcing how old he is because, really, he shouldn’t be playing with such composure in that position.
Not so long ago, the idea of him starting against Croatia would have seemed a flight of fancy but he dovetailed well with Declan Rice and hardly wasted a pass.
Be under no illusion that he is firmly in Southgate’s plans for a place in his first XI at Wembley on Sunday week.
17-year-old Jude Bellingham will be firmly in Southgate’s plans to start against Croatia
DOWNS
Tyrone Mings
Discipline is a quality that Southgate demands from all his players. He takes a dim view of anyone whose rashness compromises the progression of the collective and frequently spells out why cool heads are required in international football.
He will have been vexed, then, by the crude manner in which Mings, 28, flattened Sasa Kalajdzic.
Mings has been a credit to England over the last 18 months but he must learn this lesson: his actions could have earned a red card and, usually, a red card in tournament football means elimination.
Tyrone Mings showed a lack of discipline that will be of concern to the England manager
The Aston Villa defender, 28, flattened Sasa Kalajdzic in an ugly off the ball incident
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The Everton forward came on in the second half and found it difficult to make an impression. There was one surge into the area, resulting in a square ball that flashed across the six-yard box, but not a great deal else.
Southgate has stood by the 24-year-old, having given him a debut last October, but there is a feeling he only just made the final cut after Ollie Watkins outscored him in the Premier League from January 1 (eight goals to five); a decent contribution against Romania won’t do him any harm.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin found it difficult to make an impression when he came off the bench
Jadon Sancho
This is no criticism of the Borussia Dortmund forward, just a frustration at the circumstances. Southgate, unprompted, spoke about his disappointment that illness had prevented him being included against Austria.
He looked glum and you could understand why. Sancho had a fantastic season in Germany, helping his side qualify for the Champions League and win the German Cup.
It is hoped the 21-year-old can start against Romania as there is the lingering suspicion a big performance will put him in line to start against Croatia. His pace and talent are thrilling.
Jadon Sancho unfortunately missed out due to illness, to the frustration of Southgate