sport news ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP SQUAD LADDER - 1-40: Abraham and Bowen aim to impress in ... trends now
Usually around this time of year, the England squad has already been picked for a major tournament and the final touches are being put in place ahead of the opening game.
A winter World Cup in Qatar has changed all that, and a June squad for England instead offers a huge opportunity for players involved to either strengthen claims on an existing spot or showcase a strong audition to barge into Gareth Southgate's plans.
Ahead of the November kick-off, England have just six games across Nations League fixtures and four of them come this month, making a place in this month's squad even more crucial for those on the bubble of securing a spot.
Here, Sportsmail assesses the top 40 for what looks set to be just 23 places following on from our last assessment after the friendly wins over Switzerland and Ivory Coast in March.
Gareth Southgate has only six games before deciding his England squad for the World Cup
The only thing that will stop Harry Kane from travelling to the World Cup now is an injury after a strong end to the season, as 13 goals in 2022 helped Tottenham Hotspur qualify for the Champions League.
Even a poor start to next season will see him have enough credit in the bank to board the plane.
Why is he in the Nations League squad you may ask? Kane is only four goals away from breaking Wayne Rooney's national record of 53. England's captain has that on his radar in preference of relaxing on a yacht off the Mediterranean.
Still, what a welcome choice of selections that is.
As England captain and leading marksman, Harry Kane is first name on the England teamsheet
There is a good argument to suggest that Jordan Pickford hasn't been at his best this season, some may even suggest he is not even England's best goalkeeper right now. So why is he so high up on the list?
For England he has been close to faultless in the last few years, especially at Euro 2020 where he only conceded two goals.
Even if he does lose his starting spot due to a collapse in form, it seems unthinkable for him to not even make the squad now.
Jordan Pickford's reliability and experience means he is all but certain to travel to Qatar
Rice was already one of the first names on the teamsheet and his excellent season with West Ham United to help them secure European football has only enhanced that notion.
In addition, there isn't a player in the country who comes close to offering the same level as expertise in holding the midfield and the only thing uncertain about his future is whether the Hammers can ward off interest from bigger Premier League sides such as Chelsea and Manchester United this summer.
4. Raheem Sterling (up two)It's already been a good start to the summer for Raheem Sterling who can put his feet up at the end of June with another Premier League title winners' medal around his neck.
He is perhaps one player who can afford to take it a little bit easier during the Nations League.
The Manchester City star is now one of Gareth Southgate's trusted senior stars with 19 goals from 74 caps and given the struggles of fellow England forwards, his place looks even safer than it did back in March.
Raheem Sterling has enjoyed a good season with Man City and looks set for a starting role
Sterling isn't the only Manchester City who can perhaps afford to ease his workload over the summer, with Phil Foden having been integral to his side's Premier League success.
Having won the Premier League's Young Player of the Season award and now favourite to retain his PFA equivalent, he is one of the best young midfielders playing in the country right now and has little to prove during the Nations League.
6. Harry Maguire (down three)Let's get to the point. It's been a torrid season for the Manchester United captain whose poor form domestically came as the Red Devils limped over the line in an underwhelming campaign to secure Europa League football on the final day.
Yet, his record for England is exemplary, making the boos from Wembley fans directed at him during March's friendly against Ivory Coast totally ludicrous. He may well need a beach trip to clear his head more than any other player, but he can also offer a reminder of why he is still England's best defender this summer.
A healthy debate can be had on whether he should still be starting but there is no way right now you wouldn't take him to Qatar.
Harry Maguire's form for England still makes him a comfortable choice to travel to Qatar
Another of Southgate's most trusted players whose minutes in the Nations League will surely be managed to give him a break after a strong season in helping Chelsea secure a top three finish.
Competition for places is high in England's attack but Mount has enough credit in the bank to be in a position where he has nothing to prove in June and his role will be more focused on helping fringe players settle in the team.
8. Kyle Walker (non-mover)One big question this summer for England is who will be starting at right-back in just a few months time at the World Cup? It's a position with some of the closest and fiercest competition.
Kyle Walker may still hold the aces to that despite not featuring much during City's run-in but he has experience and crucially can also offer cover as a centre-back.
A combination of both make the idea of him missing the plane seem a bit silly right now, even if his starting spot is far from certain.
Kyle Walker is back in the England fold and his versatility could help him nail down a place
While one of England's regular centre-backs in Maguire has been struggling, another in John Stones had a much more enjoyable campaign after winning the Premier League title.
He can struggle to get a game at City these days but remains one of England's best and in what is a fragile position for the Three Lions his partnership with Maguire is the one favoured by Southgate.
10. Luke Shaw (non-mover)The problem area for Southgate is left back, and the England boss doesn't quite have the same strength in depth on left that he does on the right. Luke Shaw however has helped mask this problem in recent times.
Given his direct rival for a place in Ben Chilwell has struggled with injury he still has an excellent chance of going to Qatar despite his omission this month. Southgate has not named a left-back at all in his experimental squad and it would be folly of him to do so again ahead of the finals.
Luke Shaw offers quality at left back despite his struggles with Manchester United this term
Will be carrying an end of season hangover after Arsenal allowed a Champions League place to slip through their fingers to rivals Tottenham but that doesn't hide another superb campaign for Saka.
Before the season started he was in and around contention for a starting spot under Southgate and combined with being one of Arsenal's best players last term and his versatility over the pitch, the young winger is well on course for Qatar.
12. Reece James (up seven)Of the abundance of talent Southgate has at right-back there is perhaps none more in form heading into the summer than the Chelsea star.
With Walker suffering with form and injuries, Kieran Trippier returning from a lengthy lay-off and Trent Alexander-Arnold an enigma at international level, James looks the most assured pick for Southgate having also been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Reece James shoots up the rankings and is in contention to feature as the No 1 right back
Ramsdale's reputation has rocketed over the last year having joined Arsenal, replaced Bernd Leno and been one of their outstanding players on their way to a fifth place finish in the table.
Gunners fans may even argue he is England's best goalkeeper, but while he is unlikely to displace Pickford from the starting XI right now, it's hard to find another stopper who deserves a place in Southgate's squad more than the 24-year-old.
14. Jack Grealish (non-mover)Grealish to his credit wasn't hiding it - he's already in party mode having helped Manchester City win the Premier League title this season, even if he didn't quite hit the heights expected of him since his £100million move from Aston Villa last summer.
His mercurial talents though are an excellent weapon to England's attack and even if he cannot be guaranteed a starting spot he has the capability to change the game and it would be a huge call to omit him from the squad with no real direct replacement.
Jack Grealish's technical ability is matched by few and offers Southgate options in his squad
One of the surprising omissions from Southgate squad, but not much can be read into this right now given the experimental nature of Southgate's selections.
Henderson has been vice-captain for England and with 69 caps only Sterling can claim to have more among the World Cup hopefuls.
Southgate has nothing to learn from the Liverpool captain and after a long season with the Reds it makes sense for him to be left out to allow room for another player to audition for a spot.
16. Ben Chilwell (down one)For all intents and purposes, Chilwell has been out injured since November, despite making a cameo return on the final day of the season against Watford having ruptured his cruciate ligaments.
So it's no surprise to see him left out of Southgate's squad, and when fit he is likely to return as the England manager's No 1 pick at left back.
The only uncertainty right now is how badly his injury has affected him, something we won't know until the first few months of the Premier League season.
17. Conor Coady (down five)To Southgate's credit he has spent time working on a Plan B for England and this can incorporate England moving into a back three - and that calls for a specialist in the defensive line-up.
Coady continues to impress for Wolves in that role and he has looked steady there when called upon for
