NEWCASTLE legend Alan Shearer has revealed who he thinks should make England’s World Cup squad picking three players from his former club.
Shearer, who captained the Three Lions in the tournament in 1998, selected Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson to make his 26-man squad.
The pundit selected Wilson and Tammy Abraham to back-up Harry Kane instead of Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
Explaining his choice Shearer told The Athletic: “I’ve left out Toney and gone for Abraham and Wilson.
“I understand that if England are to win the World Cup they’re almost certain to have to win a penalty shootout somewhere down the line and I understand the clamour for Toney to be involved.
“But I’d be a bit concerned about how his physicality might be viewed by referees at the highest level. Wilson has longstanding fitness issues but has been brilliant for Newcastle.”
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Toney has netted eight goals this season and has an incredible penalty record that has seen him score 26 out of 27 in his career.
Meanwhile, Wilson is also in-form for the Magpies having scored six goals this campaign.
England’s official squad is set to be named by manager Gareth Southgate on Thursday.
But in Shearer’s say he expressed he found it “absolutely bizarre” that a World Cup is happening half way through a season.
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Amongst the obvious selections he made a number of inclusions that could differ from the side Southgate may pick.
Shearer stressed that James Maddison has more than earned a place on the plane saying: “My only debating point would be whether he starts or not.”
But Southgate has not chosen the in-form Leicester ace in his last few squads.
Similarly he has not picked Arsenal defender Ben White of late but on the contrary Shearer believes the 25-year-old has merited a spot on the plane to Qatar.
He also questioned Southgate’s decision to use a back three saying that he would use a four-man defence.
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Shearer’s England squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope
Defenders: Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben White, Conor Coady, Eric Dier, John Stones, Luke Shaw
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, James Ward-Prowse, James Maddison, Mason Mount, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka
Attackers: Harry Kane, Callum Wilson, Tammy Abraham, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
