England right-back Kyle Walker will not be ready to start Monday's World Cup 2022 opener with Iran in Group B at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The Manchester City man is in the final stages of his recovery from groin surgery and has been training with the team, but by his own admission, he is not quite at full match fitness.

Leicester City playmaker James Maddison has also missed a couple of days' worth of training with a knee issue and has been ruled out too, but it would have been a surprise to see him line up from the start here.

Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope lead the way at the top of the Premier League clean sheet charts, but Jordan Pickford should start the World Cup as England's number one, most likely with Harry Maguire and John Stones protecting him.

A four-man backline would likely see Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw occupy the wide areas, and Southgate is facing a dilemma over Declan Rice's midfield partner.

Kalvin Phillips was an integral cog at Euro 2020, but his shoulder injury and subsequent lack of minutes could see Southgate opt to bring in Jude Bellingham instead.

Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka are seemingly nailed on to occupy spots in the final third behind Harry Kane, who needs just three more goals to overtake Ellen White and Wayne Rooney and become England's highest goalscorer of all time.

England possible starting lineup: Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane

> Click here to see how Iran could line up for this match

Written by
Ben Knapton