How could England line up without players from Super League clubs?

Cameron Smith

Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
6 min read

How could England line up without players from Super League clubs? — © ProShots

With the Super League news taking over the internet, here at FootballTransfers we thought we’d take a look at how the England national team could line-up, potentially at this summer’s European Championships, if players from Super League clubs are excluded from playing for their national team.

Article continues under the video

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has warned those taking part in the Super League could be banned from representing their countries in the World Cup and European Championships, meaning many English players wouldn’t be able to partake in this summer’s Euros.

This will leave Gareth Southgate with a selection headache, and could scupper hopes of a successful tournament. But who won’t be available, and who could be handed a chance in the national set-up?

England players who could miss out

With so many of England’s stars currently playing for one of the ‘big six’ in the Premier League, it means many could miss out. These include captain Harry Kane, who is arguably England’s best player, Harry Maguire and John Stones at centre-half, and Mason Mount, who has become crucial to Southgate’s plans.

Taking a look at England’s latest original squad announcement from the March fixtures, this is the full list of players who would miss out this summer:

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Manchester United)

Defenders: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Tripper (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City),

Midfielders: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Jesse Lingard (West Ham, on loan from Manchester United),

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), and Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).

Trent Alexander-Arnold was obviously omitted from the squad, but he wouldn’t be available, and as Lingard is owned by Man Utd, and will return to Old Trafford this summer, it’s unlikely he’ll be allowed to go.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by England football team (@england)

English players who would benefit

Whilst many stars will miss out, a few lesser names would be given a chance. The likes of James Tarkowski and Lewis Dunk could be reintroduced at centre-half, and Ezri Konsa could be given his first call-up.

Jadon Sancho would surely be recalled, and Patrick Bamford’s form may be rewarded with a first international cap.

Jack Grealish would be guaranteed a starting berth, and his team-mates Matty Cash and Matt Targett could sneak in at full-back, with so many being ineligible.

England’s Starting XI with no Super League players

James Justin and Harvey Barnes, Justin in particular, would’ve had a great shot at making the Euros even without Super League players being omitted, before their respective injuries. However, they look likely to miss out with injury, so aren’t included in this team.

Tyrone Mings may well find himself in the starting XI ahead of Conor Coady to make it a full Aston Villa back four, and Watkins may push Calvert-Lewin for the spot up top, but the Everton man just has the edge.

Nick Pope will likely win the battle for the number one shirt, with Jordan Pickford currently injured and Johnstone not quite at his level.

Sancho, Grealish and Maddison could cause chaos behind Calvert-Lewin, and all three of those creators would have hoped for a starting spot in Southgate’s original plans anyway.