Alan Shearer Names The 26 Players He Thinks Should Be In England's World Cup Squad
Former England captain Alan Shearer believes that Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson should go to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
England manager Gareth Southgate will name his 26-man squad for the tournament on Thursday.
But Shearer, via The Athletic, has already published a list of the 26 players he thinks should represent the Three Lions in Qatar.
| Alan Shearer's England Squad For Qatar 2022 |
|---|
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope |
Defenders: Kyle Walker, Luke Shaw, Ben White, Conor Coady, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Eric Dier |
Midfielders: Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, James Maddison, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse, Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson |
Forwards: Harry Kane, Callum Wilson, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Tammy Abraham |
Wilson is one of three Newcastle players on Shearer's list, along with goalkeeper Nick Pope and full-back Kieran Trippier.
Shearer would take Wilson ahead of Ivan Toney, despite the Brentford striker scoring eight Premier League goals so far this season - two more than Wilson.
Toney also has the best penalty record of any active England player.
But Shearer would leave Toney at home and go with Wilson, Harry Kane, Tammy Abraham, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling as his attacking options.
Shearer, who won the Golden Boot at Euro 1996 and then scored two goals at the 1998 World Cup, thinks his squad will be similar to the real one named by Southgate.
Alan Shearer pictured playing for England at Euro 1996
IMAGO/Allstar/Mary Evans/Richard Sellers
One player they may disagree on is Leicester City playmaker James Maddison, who has not played for England since his debut in 2019.
Discussing his selections, Shearer told The Athletic: "In truth, I don't think my squad will look too different from Gareth's. By and large, it's tinkering around the edges.
"In terms of midfield and up front, I'm really happy with what England have. We have some incredibly talented players there, but I'd definitely be taking Leicester City's James Maddison, who is playing exceptionally well and my only debating point would be whether he starts or not — although there's clearly something Gareth doesn't fancy about him.
"In attack, I've left out Brentford's Ivan Toney and gone for Tammy Abraham and Callum Wilson. I understand that if England are to win the World Cup they're almost certain to have to win a penalty shootout somewhere down the line and I understand the clamour for Toney to be involved, but I'd be a bit concerned about how his physicality might be viewed by referees at the highest level.
"Wilson has longstanding fitness issues but has been brilliant for Newcastle United."
