Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips have been named in England's starting lineup for tonight's Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy at Wembley Stadium.
Both Maguire and Phillips have struggled to gain regular first-team football at club level with Manchester United and Manchester City respectively for some time, with the duo starting just three games between them in all competitions so far this season.
Nevertheless, Gareth Southgate has decided to select the Three Lions pair in his first XI for a potentially-pivotal Group C clash with Italy, as England endeavour to claim all three points that will secure their spot at Euro 2024.
Southgate has made 11 changes to the side that beat Australia in a friendly last Friday, with Jordan Pickford returning in goal at the expense of Sam Johnstone, while Maguire is joined in the back four by Kyle Walker, John Stones and Kieran Trippier.
Phillips will line up in centre-midfield alongside Declan Rice and in-form Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, while England's record goalscorer Harry Kane starts in attack with Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford.
Jordan Henderson, who was booed by large quarters of the Wembley crowd last Friday following his controversial summer move to Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq, is named on the substitutes' bench.
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As for Italy, Luciano Spalletti has made a total of eight changes to the side that beat Malta 4-0 in a qualifier on Saturday, with Tottenham Hotspur's Destiny Udogie the most notable inclusion as he has been handed his first international start at left-back.
The 20-year-old will line up in a four-man defence with Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Giorgio Scalvini and Francesco Acerbi, protecting goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Donnarumma.
In midfield, Nicolo Barella retains his place, but will instead links arms with Davide Frattesi and Bryan Cristante, with Manuel Locatelli and Giacomo Bonaventura dropping down to the substitutes' bench.
Domenico Berardi, who scored a brace against Malta, will continue on the right flank, while former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca will start up front, with Stephan El Shaarawy operating on the left.
Italy will be without Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali and Aston Villa's Nicolo Zaniolo as both players are currently under investigation by Italian prosecutors over alleged illegal betting.
England starting lineup: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Phillips, Rice, Bellingham; Foden, Kane, Rashford
Subs: Johnstone, Guehi, J. Henderson, Dunk, Colwill, Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher, Watkins, Grealish, Maddison, Ramsdale, Bowen
Italy starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Scalvini, Acerbi, Udogie; Frattesi, Cristante, Barella; Berardi, Scammaca, El Shaarawy
Subs: Dimarco, Gatti, Locatelli, Kean, Bonaventura, Raspadori, Vicario, Darmian, Mancini, Orsolini, Meret, Bastoni
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