Thursday 17 March 2016 14:18, UK
We asked Soccer Saturday pundit Phil Thompson to pick his best 23 for Euro 2016 ahead of Roy Hodgson’s England squad announcement on Thursday.
England take on Germany and the Netherlands at the end of the month as Hodgson looks to find his best line-up for the summer showpiece, with plenty of debate surrounding who should travel to France.
Thompson fails to find a place for any Arsenal players, with Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Calum Chambers and Jack Wilshere missing out.
The Liverpool legend has also left out regulars Fabian Delph, Leighton Baines, Phil Jones but believes Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge deserves a place on the plane despite starting just four Premier League games this season.
Here's who Thommo has included in his squad…
Goalkeepers: Hart, Butland, Forster
Defenders: Clyne, Walker, Rose, Bertrand, Stones, Smalling, Cahill, Jagielka
Midfielders: Henderson, Milner, Barkley, Alli, Lallana, Dier, Carrick, Sterling
Forwards: Kane, Vardy, Sturridge, Rooney
Disagree with Thommo? Find Sky Bet's odds on who will go to the Euros here.
Thompson said: "The big decision for me would be Sturridge or Walcott as both have been injured and offer you different things, but I'd have to side with Sturidge because of his ability to decide games.
"The next few months are obviously going to be crucial and both Liverpool and England will be hoping his injuries are now behind him and that he'll go from strength to strength.
"The other real area of contention for me is at left-back. Baines has missed most of the season as has struggled to show he deserves a place ahead of Ryan Bertrand and Danny Rose since returning for Everton.
"Bertrand has probably been the most consistent left-back over the last two seasons for Southampton, while Rose gets in based on the superb season he's having with Tottenham.
"Delph is another one that has been in a lot Hodgson's squads because of the energy he brings in midfield, but I'd prefer Michael Carrick.
"You want somebody in there with experience of regularly playing at the top level and he's also a player who can look after the ball. It will be him and Eric Dier vying for that holding midfielder role for me.
"As for Wayne Rooney, he'll be going regardless of what we say. Hodgson will have him in his squad because of the experience he brings, even if he's not going to be in the starting line-up."
