Gareth Southgate not for turning with Kobbie Mainoo only expected change for Slovakia
Kobbie Mainoo is expected to partner Declan Rice in England's midfield against Slovakia - Getty Images/Eddie Keogh
Gareth Southgate is likely to resist making sweeping changes to his team facing Slovakia on Sunday but is ready to start Kobbie Mainoo in the Euro last-16 clash in Gelsenkirchen.
The England manager has faced calls to change up his forward line and give others a chance following three lacklustre performances in the group stage but is understood to be reluctant to rip up his original attacking plan.
Mainoo has pushed for a place following his second-half display in the last game against Slovenia, with the Manchester United teenager, 19, in line to replace Conor Gallagher in midfield.
Kieran Trippier has missed two days of training but is hopeful of being fully-fit to play this weekend. Southgate is also prepared to keep faith in his forward players including Phil Foden, who returned to training on Thursday after returning home briefly following the birth of his third child with partner Rebecca Cooke.
Jude Bellingham has also started all three games so far, scoring the winner against Serbia but admitting he was “absolutely dead” at the end of the final group game when he was running on the adrenaline from the England crowd cheering players on. He has been training in the No10 role in the last days, supporting Harry Kane.
Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, has insisted it is not a solution for him to switch from being a right-forward to left-back after England have endured problems with injuries and the balance of the team in that position. Luke Shaw has not played in Germany but has stepped up his recovery from a hamstring injury and could be available at Arena AufSchalke on Sunday.
Trippier has missed two days of training since the Slovenia clash but there are hopes he will prepare normally with the rest of the squad on Saturday. BBC pundit and ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright had proposed Saka as a player who could step in at left-back.
“Obviously I love Ian Wright and he says so many great things about me but I don’t think putting me out of position is the solution,” said Saka on BBC Five Live. “At the end of the day, I think we can talk about this but it’s in Gareth’s hands so we will just have to trust whoever Gareth selects on the day.”
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