sport news FIVE THINGS Gareth Southgate can learn from England's games against Malta and ... trends now
As the severely hungover quintet of Manchester City Treble-winners rocked up at St George's Park on Tuesday night, many were questioning what the point was of England facing two international fixtures in June.
For it has been a gruelling campaign that started all the way back on July 30 when Liverpool took on Manchester City in the Community Shield, meaning some stars they will have been playing for 46 weeks.
To add even more perplexity to the schedule, most of England's players would have headed off on holiday for a short break when the Premier League concluded two weeks ago, before then returning for England duty.
The Three Lions face Malta and North Macedonia on Friday and Monday respectively as they look to continue their perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying.
Victories in both games would give England one foot in next summer's tournament, Here, Mail Sport outlines five things Gareth Southgate can learn this week.
Gareth Southgate is getting ready for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia
Man City's five Treble-winning stars joined up with the England squad on Tuesday evening
After what was seemingly a dismal and chaotic season, Liverpool took some credit as they ended it with an 11-game unbeaten run which saw them secure fifth place and almost sneak into the Champions League.
Crucial to this turnaround was the form of Trent Alexander-Arnold - who had previously been widely castigated for his performances - as Jurgen Klopp gave the right back a new hybrid role, tucking inside into midfield.
This was a tactical masterstroke as Alexander-Arnold added seven assists and one goal in 10 games to rediscover his swagger.
The question is now what happens next season at Anfield and whether Southgate tries something similar with the Three Lions.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was reinvigorated at the end of the season when playing a hybrid role
However, gametime hasn't always come easy for Alexander-Arnold at international level
Despite racking up 18 caps for England, it hasn't been easy for the 24-year-old at international level as he has often found himself behind Kyle Walker, Reece James and Kieran Trippier in the pecking order.
In a World Cup qualifier against Andorra in 2021, Southgate trialled Alexander-Arnold as a central midfielder, much to Klopp's disgust.
'Why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder? I don't understand that really,' the Liverpool boss fumed at the time.
'As if the right-back position is not as important as the others. People who say that I struggle to understand how you could think that.'
Times change, and with England's squad for the qualifiers comprising of just five midfielders - one of which is the partying Kalvin Phillips - there is surely a strong temptation for Southgate to try and fit Alexander-Arnold into that position.
Can Eze be the creative No. 10 England have craved?If England have been criticised - perhaps unfairly - for being conservative and boring under Gareth Southgate at times, the England boss could have hardly called up a more exciting player than Eberechi Eze.
The hugely-talented Crystal Palace midfielder ended the season in inspired form under Roy Hodgson, finishing with 10 goals and four assists - an impressive return for a team that finished in the bottom half.
During recent tournament exits, the Three Lions have been guilty of an inability to keep the ball and create chances throughout games, something Eze will bring in abundance.
Eberechi Eze could make his England debut after his fine end to the season with Crystal Palace
As was the case in the aforementioned discussion of Alexander-Arnold, due to a limited number of midfield options - and James Maddison listed in the squad as a forward - there is likely to be an opportunity for Eze to show what he can do.
If he does make his debut, it will a long time coming for the Palace star who was forced to
