Coral experts predict Roy Hodgson’s England World Cup squad

England manager Roy Hodgson names his World Cup squad of 23, plus seven players on standby, that he will take to Brazil.

Our Coral experts have stuck their necks out and predicted what is in his thinking.

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Brom); John Ruddy (Norwich) as standby.

Hodgson must surely reward Scottish Premiership winner Forster with a squad spot ahead of Canaries keeper Ruddy on merit, form and confidence. Hart is clearly the Three Lions’ number one with Foster as his backup.

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones and Chris Smalling (both Man Utd), Luke Shaw (Southampton); Jon Flanagan (Liverpool) and John Stones (Everton) on standby.

England boss Hodgson has committed to bringing youth through, but defence is clearly an area where experience is essential. Shaw gets in because of Ashley Cole’s retirement, but for the likes of Stones and Flanagan this tournament has come around too early.

Understudy right back Kyle Walker (Tottenham) will have lost all match fitness because of pelvic and groin problems that have kept him sidelined for two months. It seems the height of folly, meanwhile, to reward Steven Caulker (Cardiff City) with a World Cup place after the club side he skippers shipped 74 Premier League goals and finished bottom.

Baines will get the starting berth at left back. Smalling has had a poor season, but has played under the manager at Fulham. We are assured Red Devils teammate Jones will be fit for the finals, so both can cover centre half and for Johnson.

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson (both Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Man City), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere (both Arsenal), Adam Lallana (Southampton); Tom Cleverley (Man Utd) and Ross Barkley (Everton) on standby.

Hodgson gave a clear indicator he would keep faith with the players that helped the Three Lions qualify. Only Cleverley’s abysmal form will force his hand with the likes of Henderson and Lallana clearly ahead of the flop now.