England have already secured a place at the 2026 World Cup and the Three Lions are aiming to extend their perfect record in qualifying Group K when they host Serbia on Thursday.
Thomas Tuchel’s men have won all six of their qualifiers without conceding a goal, including September’s 5-0 victory in Serbia, who will be hoping for a far better result in the 7.45pm kick-off at Wembley.
Given the competition for places in Tuchel’s World Cup squad, England’s players should still be highly motivated and there is live coverage of Thursday’s game on ITV1.
England predicted lineup vs Serbia
Predicted England XI: (4-2-3-1) Jordan Pickford; Reece James, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Djed Spence; Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford; Harry Kane.
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England team news vs Serbia
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, one of England’s key defenders, will miss Thursday’s game due to a foot injury.
Tuchel has called up Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah, whose only senior appearance for the Three Lions came in June’s 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal.
Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope and Magpies team-mate Anthony Gordon have withdrawn from the squad to face Serbia and Albania in England’s final two qualifiers.
Pope suffered concussion in Sunday’s Premier League defeat at Brentford. He is behind Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson in England’s goalkeeping pecking order and Manchester City youngster James Trafford has been called up as his replacement.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe explained that Gordon has “a minor injury”, while Chelsea star Cole Palmer, who has made only one appearance during England’s qualifying campaign, remains sidelined due to a groin problem and Arsenal winger Noni Madueke (knee) is also absent.
READ MORE: Our England vs Serbia predictions & betting tips
Spots up for grabs with Tuchel’s Three Lions
England’s players are jostling for places in the squad for next summer’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA and Tuchel’s full-back dilemma is particularly intriguing.
Newcastle’s Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are sidelined for the final two qualifiers but should be in contention once they return to action for the Magpies.
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly scored the first goal of the Tuchel era against Albania in March, but the England manager is concerned about the teenager’s lack of playing time this season.
Riccardo Calafiori’s fine form for the Gunners has restricted Lewis-Skelly to just seven substitute appearances in the Premier League and he was left out of the latest England squad.
Nico O’Reilly, who has been playing regularly for in-form Man City, was called up instead of Lewis-Skelly and he is vying with Dan Burn and Djed Spence for a start at left-back.
Spence played the whole of last month’s 5-0 win in Latvia and his impressive form for Tottenham means he may well keep his place in the starting line-up.
He is comfortable playing at left-back or right-back and that versatility boosts his chances of making the World Cup squad, while Chelsea captain Reece James, fitness permitting, should also be on the plane.
Veteran Kyle Walker does not appear to be in Tuchel’s plans any longer and Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has played only 26 minutes since the German coach took charge of England, was again omitted from this squad.
