How should England line-up in Estonia? Stuart Pearce and Alan Curbishley pick their XI
Thursday 1 October 2015 13:19, UK
England take on Estonia next Friday having already secured their qualification for Euro 2016 next summer.
With that in mind Stuart Pearce and Alan Curbishley have selected their starting XI for the game, mixing youth with experience.
One player not selected in Roy Hodgson's squad is Daniel Sturridge, despite his double against Aston Villa last weekend. The Liverpool man has not been risked as he continues to build up his fitness after five months out injured.
Pearce and Curbishley felt the striker could have been included but acknowledge it is a balancing act for Hodgson as he aims to do what is best for his side but also keep the clubs on side.
"We're talking about fatigue - it's October, we're seven games into the Premier League - we're early in the season," Pearce said. "I think as an international manager, particularly having already qualified, I think he'll be looking to have a consistency to the squad that he's got but also getting some brownie points with the clubs as well."
Read on as the duo explain their selections...
GOALKEEPER - Jack Butland
Curbishley: "I think he needs to be more integrated into the squad, he's playing regularly now at Stoke, having a decent season and making some great saves. It doesn't hurt the fact that Joe Hart was pulled out at the weekend with a bad back, he's played again midweek and so you can give him a rest. I think he's deserved his chance and Roy will be looking to see how he does at Wembley."
DEFENCE - Nathaniel Clyne, Gary Cahill, Chris Smalling, Kieran Gibbs
Pearce: "It's because of injuries really. We've got Luke Shaw injured, Leighton Baines injured. The left-back position, there are a lot of players around in that position, you've got Ryan Bertrand and Danny Rose available. I think Gibbs is playing as well as any of those so he's a natural step in for Baines and Shaw."
MIDFIELD - Jonjo Shelvey, Theo Walcott, Ross Barkley, Raheem Sterling
Curbishley: "Everyone sees Michael Carrick as a holding midfielder but we've not got many others who people see as designated holding midfield players as Henderson is out injured at the moment as well.
"We've talked about Shelvey, he played in one of the last internationals and was given his chance. Does Roy give him another game and see what he can do? It's a very young side there. Is he a designated holding midfielder player though?"
Pearce: "Barkley's been involved with the senior set-up for over two years and in that time I've probably been disappointed that he's not got much football. For me, if he's in the senior set-up and not playing then he may as well be in the Under-21s and playing his football there.
"Now it's the time for Barkley to get starts, to really find out about him and these two matches are great opportunities. I think he's had a good start to the season at Everton but is he a player we can throw our hat on and be a starter next summer?"
STRIKERS - Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge
Curbishley: "I think when you're picking the team, especially when we're getting to the Euros, Rooney's going to play and be captain. I think it's important to have a consistency in the team. If you're going to pick a younger side for this game, you've got to have a major player in there and I think the captain needs to be starting.
"I think Wayne Rooney would rather train than play and it'll be interesting to see who partners him - will it be Harry Kane? I think in the course of the two games there's a chance for a couple of younger players to play with Wayne Rooney and see how they go."
Pearce: "With the likes of Sturridge, incorporate him in the first game, get him 70 or 80 minutes in the first game and then maybe even send him back to his club if he's not needed for the second one. So he's got a full week at Liverpool leading into the next game. They are the trade-offs you have to do as an international manager."
