Malta vs England. FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group F.
Ta'Qali National StadiumAttendance16,994.
Friday 1 September 2017 18:08, UK
Gareth Southgate will keep faith with Joe Hart in Malta as he is England's "best goalkeeper at the moment".
England take on the world's 190th best side at the Ta' Qali National Stadium looking to take another step towards next summer's World Cup.
Southgate would not discuss his chosen captain or shed much light on his starting line-up aside from pledging to name a strong team and start long-serving No 1 Hart.
The 30-year-old has endured a rocky start to his season-long loan at West Ham United, conceding 10 goals in his first three matches, and the competition from Jack Butland, Tom Heaton and Jordan Pickford is only getting stronger.
But Southgate said: "Joe will start for us.I think he's our best goalkeeper at the moment.
"I wanted to see how he would respond because he has had a difficult start to the season with his club, but I'm pleased he's in a good frame of mind. Joe has trained really well.
"His performances since I've been manager have been very, very good, he's only conceded two goals in Scotland in this qualifying campaign."
Hart is one of five players to have worn the skipper's armband during Southgate's eight games at the helm - alongside Wayne Rooney, Jordan Henderson, Gary Cahill and Harry Kane.
Rooney was the last permanent captain before losing his place in Southgate's plans and his retirement last week has reinvigorated the question about a long-term successor.
"I'm keen to keep sharing the leadership," said Southgate, who will start uncapped Harry Maguire and Nathaniel Chalobah on the bench.
"We've focused too much on Wayne, in particular, these last few years and we've got to start building up a more resilient group of leaders to take responsibility.
"For me, it's not my most important decision, what's more important is trying to build the group into a stronger group that reacts in the right way collectively to pressure moments in the game."
England top Group F with four qualification matches remaining on the road to next year's World Cup in Russia, while Malta have lost all six of their games so far.
Malta manager Pietro Ghedin was complementary of England ahead of the clash, calling the them "the best team in Europe at the moment".
"The English team has improved a lot since our last meeting with them at Wembley Stadium," he said. "It will be very difficult tomorrow. England are England, everyone knows their potential. We have to play for the pride of this country against the English."
Kieran Trippier has withdrawn from the England squad and returned to Tottenham to continue his rehabilitation on an injury sustained earlier in the season.
Jordan Pickford also pulled out of the squad earlier in the week because of a muscular injury, while Eric Dier is suspended for one game after picking up a booking against Scotland last time out.
Phil Jones, Jake Livermore and Nathaniel Chalobah were all involved in Thursday's session after sitting out on Tuesday due to minor injuries, with the latter in line for a first-team debut along with Harry Maguire.
It's one in, one out for Malta with Alfred Effiong not available due to suspension. Jean Paul Farrugia is back in contention after serving a ban.
England are looking for their third consecutive away win against Malta, however this will be their first trip there since June 2000 (a 2-1 win under Kevin Keegan).
England have netted 10 goals and conceded just one over their previous four games against Malta.
England are unbeaten in their last 17 World Cup Qualifiers (W11 D6), in a run that dates back to 2009 and spans four different managerial spells (Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce and current boss Gareth Southgate).
Southgate's men are winless in their last two internationals however (D1 L1), while they've yet to go three without a win under the 46-year-old.
In fact, England are yet to win away from home under Southgate - drawing against Slovenia and Scotland, and losing against Germany and France.
Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli are the only current England internationals to have netted against Malta, doing so in a 2-0 win in October 2016.
No England player has scored more goals than Sturridge in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign (two - level with Adam Lallana).
Malta have won just one of their last 18 international games (D3 L14), losing seven of the most recent eight.
Ghedin's side have lost each of their last 10 World Cup Qualifiers, shipping 29 goals in the process (an average of 2.9 per game).
With Slovakia and Slovenia at home, this is the one which should see England over the line. It's just about getting the job done, nothing impressive required.
People tell me Malta are improving but Scotland ran out 5-1 winners so I'm not sure how that case stands - it should be a comfortable evening for Southgate's men.
I'd be looking high on the goal handicap and I fancy Alli and Harry Kane both to score as they look to prove a point after a couple of bad results for Tottenham.
I think Kane will be captain at the World Cup but Southgate's message seems like he's unsure who will have it long term, so I expect to see him switch it around.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 0-5 (13/2 with Sky Bet)
Betting
England are just 1/25 with Sky Bet for the victory with Malta up against odds of 40/1 while the draw is priced at 12/1. However, Gareth Southgate's men are 18/1 eighth favourites for the World Cup, nearly four times the price of market leaders Germany (5/1). Harry Kane is the 2/1 favourite in the first goalscorer betting and is enhanced from 5/4 to 7/4 to bag a brace in Sky Bet's Price Boosts, while Michael Mifsud is considered the hosts' main threat at 16/1 to net first.
