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England squad surprises? Six names hoping for their international debut

Jordan Pickford of England during the international friendly match between England U21 and USA U23 at Deepdale

Gareth Southgate will name his England squad on Thursday ahead of the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia next month.

A new season brings new hope for those players hoping to push their claims to a spot in the senior squad. But who could be in line for a call up?

Here, we pick out six Premier League players who will be hoping to make their senior international debut…

Harry Maguire

Maguire made a £17m move from Hull to Leicester over the summer and has made a fine start to life with the Foxes, scoring on his home debut in Saturday's 2-0 win over Brighton. The popular 24-year-old defender's burly frame masks the fact that he is more than capable with the ball at his feet and he is already in Southgate's thoughts.

Harry Maguire heads Leicester City into a two goal lead
Image: Harry Maguire scored for Leicester on his home debut following his £17m move

"First and foremost I need a good season for Leicester, performing week-in, week-out, and touch wood, staying injury free," Maguire recently told the Daily Mail. "Then I'll see where it takes me. Personally, I haven't had any contact from England. But in the summer they spoke to my physio and asked about my injury. They knew I was unavailable." He is available now.

Nathaniel Chalobah

After making 10 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in their title-winning campaign, there was some surprise that Chalobah was allowed to leave the club for Watford in the summer. But the 22-year-old midfielder started only one of those 10 games and it is regular minutes that he craves - with a view to representing his country.

Nathaniel Chalobah left Chelsea to join Watford
Image: Midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah left Chelsea to join Watford in the summer

"I wanted to feel like I belong somewhere," he said following the transfer. "No disrespect to Chelsea but when I was here the first time I did feel as if I was involved quite a bit and I did get opportunities. (My England prospects) were part of the reasons. It was just about trying to improve." With 40 Under-21 caps to his name, the senior squad is the natural next step.

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Craig Dawson

Dawson has made England's long list in the past but has never been in the actual squad. The versatile defender will be hopeful of that changing, especially given that Jake Livermore became the first West Brom outfield player to play for England in over 30 years earlier this year. As part of a strong Albion back line, the 27-year-old Dawson cannot be too far away.

Craig Dawson and Sam Vokes in action during the first half at Turf Moor
Image: Craig Dawson has helped West Brom to two consecutive clean sheets

He was capped 15 times by the Under-21s and even featured in Stuart Pearce's Great Britain team at the London 2012 Olympics. Only the senior England squad awaits. "It's everyone's dream to play for their country," Dawson said in March, "and if I keep working hard, keep performing, who knows? Everyone's got a chance. It would be brilliant to be picked."

Alfie Mawson

Perhaps the better bet for a chance at centre-back is Swansea's Mawson. The 23-year-old defender was part of Aidy Boothroyd's Under-21 squad this summer and has enjoyed a dramatic rise given that he only received his first call-up at that level - aged 22 - in November. As recently as 2015, he was in League Two playing for Wycombe Wanderers.

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Alfie Mawson explaining how his non-league background helps him

Mawson picked up their player of the year award and became familiar with Wembley during his season at Barnsley - winning there twice in 2016 in the Football League Trophy and the League One play-off final. Four goals for Swansea in their surprise survival bid last season underlined his progress and Southgate could well look to complete his rise this week.

Jordan Pickford

The selection of Pickford would hardly be a shock call-up. The Everton youngster received his first senior nod last October and is already the most expensive British goalkeeper in history following his summer switch from Sunderland. But the 23-year-old Pickford is yet to play for his country and it will be interesting to see whether he gets the chance next month.

Jordan Pickford joined Everton this summer
Image: Everton broke the British record fee for a goalkeeper in buying Jordan Pickford

Like Mawson, he was on Under-21 duty at the European Championships in June, saving a late penalty to salvage a draw against Sweden in the opening game. But his future now lies with Southgate's senior squad and with Joe Hart struggling for form, the battle for the goalkeeper's jersey is upon us. Will Pickford get the chance to show what he can do?

Trent Alexander-Arnold

While Pickford is expected to get his chance, Southgate is likely to resist the urge to fast track Alexander-Arnold. That would be an understandable omission but supporters are still likely to wonder whether the Liverpool player has already given enough of a clue to his capabilities to convince the England manager of his merits.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 24:  Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool controls the ball during the International Friendly match between Sydney FC and Liverpool
Image: Trent Alexander-Arnold has exploded onto the scene at Liverpool

Not many right-backs of any age are able to fizz home the sort of free-kick that he did in Liverpool's Champions League play-off at Hoffenheim. But Alexander-Arnold is only 18. It is for that reason that club boss Jurgen Klopp is pleading for caution. "Yes, he is a big talent but I think we speak too much about him," he said recently. That could be a forlorn plea.

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