Roy Hodgson has indicated 'big names' could be left off the plane to Rio this summer and I anticipate one of those so called 'big names' to be Chelsea's Ashley Cole. Cole has been out of favour this season at Chelsea and at 33 the veteran defender's best days are firmly in the past. In his place will be Southampton starlet Luke Shaw. Shaw has emerged as one of the country's brightest young prospects and has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United - the left-back should be at this summer's finals. He will likely be understudy to Everton's Leighton Baines - one of the first names on the team-sheet for both club and country - and while Cole is set to miss out, I predict Blues teammate Gary Cahill will line up at centre-back. Joining him will be Baines's Toffees colleague Phil Jagielka, with the 31-year-old forming a reliable partnership with Cahill at the heart of the Three Lion's back-four in the past. Phil Jones meanwhile is able cover for both and can also slot into midfield if needed, while Manchester City's Joleon Lescott, capped 26 times by England, is experienced cover. While England have plenty of options at left-back and centre-back, right-back is far from an obvious decision. Liverpool's Glen Johnson will likely make the final 23-man-squad, but has had an injury-stricken season. Tottenham's Kyle Walker is set to be named in Hodgson's squad, according to reports, but like Johnson has struggled for fitness, having not played for Spurs since March 13 because of a pelvic injury. It isn't ideal, but Roy Hodgson hardly has an abundance of options at right-back and will likely have to make do with both in spite of their fitness woes. Missing Out? Ashley Cole has had a distinguished playing career but it is time to give fresh blood a chance. Likewise, veterans John Terry and Rio Ferdinand definitely will not be going, while Tottenham's Michael Dawson has been hampered by injury. Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs and Liverpool's Jon Flanagan may be placed on standby.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
