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Dennis Wise picks his England World Cup squad

England manager Gareth Southgate speaks during a press conference on the eve of their international friendly against Italy
Image: England manager Gareth Southgate names his squad on Wednesday

With Gareth Southgate set to announce his England squad on Wednesday, we asked Dennis Wise to step into the England's manager shoes.

England have two friendlies scheduled against Nigeria at Wembley on June 2, and they round-off their preparations against Costa Rica at Elland Road in Leeds on June 7.

Southgate's side play their first Group G game against Tunisia on June 18 in Volgograd and also face Belgium and Panama.

Two potential Liverpool inclusions - forward Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and defender Joe Gomez - have already been ruled out, and there are injury doubts over Adam Lallana while there seems a battle on between Joe Hart and Nick Pope for a goalkeeping spot.

Has Jonjo Shelvey's upsurge in form come too late for a call-up? What about Danny Welbeck?

We asked former England international, Wise, to select his 23-man squad.

Dennis Wise won 21 caps for England
Image: Dennis Wise won 21 caps for England

Wise's squad: Pickford, Butland, Hart, Jones, Maguire, Rose, Stones, Trippier, Walker, Tarkowski, Bertrand, Alli, Dier, Henderson, Lingard, Sterling, Loftus-Cheek, Wilshere, Lallana, Kane, Rashford, Vardy, Welbeck.

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Goalkeepers

"I think Nick Pope will miss out. I'd take Joe Hart for experience, and also Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford.

"Southgate had the chance to give Pope an opportunity in the friendlies so that tells me you're not going to take someone that you haven't given an opportunity too. I would put Butland in as the number one, although it's a toss-up. His presence - he's got a better presence than Pickford, although Pickford is better on the floor."

Defenders

"Cahill could miss out. His form hasn't been great this season and he has been left out of England squads, along with Chris Smalling. The fact Kyle Walker plays on the right side of a three is a big plus for England but unfortunately it's made it hard for other centre-halves.

"I don't think Ashley Young will go. Danny Rose and Ryan Bertrand are two natural left-sided players that will bomb up and down. It's the same with Kieran Trippier and Walker on the other side."

Midfielders

"Ruben Loftus Cheek will make it - Southgate went to watch him for Crystal Palace and he played extremely well. He knows him and has played well when picked for England before. He's a replacement for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

"He's never brought Shelvey into the squad, so he won't do that now. The nucleus of the squad will be ones that have been picked before - anyone that hasn't been called up beforehand will struggle to get in. I think Shelvey is a luxury as he lacks defensive discipline - you get hurt at international football with players like that."

Crystal Palace midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Image: Crystal Palace midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is on the plane, says Wise

Forwards

"Danny Welbeck has scored 15 goals for England - he actually does very well for England in that regard. He would be someone I would definitely take.

"The main man is Harry Kane - he's guaranteed to play every game. He'd be my captain. It doesn't matter what position - I think it's about the personality of the person. He's a leader and a goalscorer. Alan Shearer has done it."

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