World Cup: What Might England's 2022 Line-up Look Like?
Right Back - Nathaniel Clyne
Age in 2022: 31 Currently: Southampton, 8 England Under-21 caps A fixture in the Crystal Palace team since the age of 17, Clyne's final year with the Eagles saw him named the club's Player of the Year and right back in the Championship's Team of the Season. His promise was confirmed with his first year in the Premiership last season, in which he established himself as the first choice in an ever improving Southampton side. Clyne has played a large part in Saints' excellent start to this season in which they have surprised many by having the meanest defence in the Premier League. Their 1-0 win at early pace setters Liverpool confirmed Saints as a team to watch this season. Following call-ups for Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez there's obviously a lot of attention on the club's talented Englishmen. While playing for Saints, Clyne has formed a good understanding with this list's number three, something that will only grow with time. Given the likelihood of one of them being involved in 2022, it could work well to pick both. Featuring regularly for the under 21s over the last couple of years, Clyne gives England another option at right back, one of Hodgson's more problem positions, combining attacking ability with good tackling and an ability to deal defensively with wingers as he did with Man United's highly regarded Adnan Januzaj. It seems only a matter of time before he gets his chance with the senior team. Other possible contenders: Kyle Walker (age 32 in 2022), Carl Jenkinson (30 in 2022), Chris Smalling (32 in 2022), Phil Jones (30 in 2022) Spurs right back Walker is only a year older than Clyne and has already racked up 9 international appearances including the recent game against Montenegro in which he linked up well down the right with club team mate Andros Townsend. Like Clyne, Walker is good going forward, but there are some doubts about his defensive abilities and whether he is truly internatioasl class. Man Utd pair Smalling and Jones have both already played in this position for England too so are definite possibilities, but in both cases their best position is in the centre of defence (see below).
Left Back - Luke Shaw
Age in 2022: 27 Currently: Southampton, 2 England Under-21 caps Clyne's counterpart on the other side of the Southampton defence is the latest graduate of the extremely productive Saints Academy that has already given the England time the likes of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Like his Saints predecessor Gareth Bale, Shaw is a pacey, technically gifted attacking threat down the left flank, but is perhaps possessed with a greater defensive awareness than the Welsh winger, whose career has seen him gradually creep up the field from the left back position he used to occupy at Southampton. Targeted by Arsenal and Chelsea last summer, Shaw was also the object of interest from David Moyes on the Scot struggling to get current England left back Leighton Baines to follow him to Man United. Currently, though, he's sticking with the club that first developed his talent and gave him the opportunity to be playing regular weekly Premier League football at the age of 18. Most pundits and fellow professionals agree that Shaw is a hugely gifted player and he will probably be performing at the peak of his powers in 2022. One of the more certain choices for this team, then. Other possible contenders: Kieran Gibbs (age 33 in 2022), Danny Rose (32 in 2022), Ryan Bertrand (33 in 2022), Max Clark (26 in 2022) The trio of Gibbs, Rose and Bertrand, all in their early 20s, all playing for one of the big London clubs (Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea respectively) are all reasonable possibilities to represent the Three Lions at left back, indeed Gibbs has already picked up 2 caps. However, with Baines likely to take over from Ashley Cole over the next few years, before Shaw is old and experienced enough to take over, there may never be a gap when any of them are the first choice.
