Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag has preferred Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, and Victor Lindelof for the season sidelining Harry Maguire whom West Ham failed in their attempt to have within their ranks. The England international rejected the offer to join West Ham and instead opted to remain at United and fight for his position. In a twisted turn of events, Harry Maguire looks certain to keep his England place as Gareth Southgate seeks some experience within his central defensive options now that John Stones and Tyrone Mings are injured and has not even been included on the Tottenham bench for the first three Premier League matches of the season. 

Despite a lack of playing time at club level, Harry Maguire became England's best defender in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. Gareth Southgate, the England boss has shown emphatic loyalty to the 30-year-old and said in May that it is now impossible for him to pick players on form alone because that would mean a lack of consistency from one squad to the next. Brighton's Lewis Dunk is also likely to be named in the England squad after being included in the last squad, especially with the current defensive absences. Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi could keep his place too and there is a possibility of a formal call-up for Levi Colwill. The young player has started each of Chelsea's first three games of this season under the new boss Mauricio Pochettino. He has previously made eleven caps with the U21s before being drafted in to train with the England senior team in May when Dunk withdrew. He did not make it, however, into a match-day squad but that could change now. 

Raheem Sterling is certain to get a call-up after a blistering start to the Premier League season with Chelsea. He has surely returned to his best form after two player-of-the-match performances already, including two goals and an assist against Luton. He was rested from the last England squad in May but Southgate will include him in the upcoming one. Jordan Henderson will be testing his England future for the first time with this squad after his move to the Saudi Pro League. He had sought reassurances from Southgate before making the decision to leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabia last month, but it is thought the England manager offered no guarantees. Henderson is now the captain of Al Ettifaq under their new boss Steven Gerrard.

Jude Bellingham is expected to return to the squad after withdrawing last time out due to a knee injury. Declan Rice is also sure to be called after he has made a displaying performance at his new home in Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Conor Gallagher would feel hard done by if he loses his place in the England squad after he has had a good start to the season with Chelsea. There are difficult choices to be made by Gareth Southgate in the midfield with Bellingham and Rice certain of their positions making it unlikely to have room for each of Ward-Prowse, Henderson, Gallagher, and Kalvin Phillips. 

Harry Kane will definitely be included for the first time since he made his move to Bundesliga title holders Bayern Munich. Bukayo Saka will, of course, get a call given his striking and goal-scoring prowess that he has shown at Arsenal and has also positioned himself as a team leader who is ready to take the responsibility and pressure to see his team win. Marcus Rashford is also likely to feature alongside Kane although his position can also feature Newcastle's, Callum Wilson. Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins can also get the call after making an impressive start so far this season. He has scored a hat-trick against Hibernian in the Europa Conference League. 

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(Image: The Telegraph)