Euro 2016 qualifiers: England v Lithuania, who plays?

If Roy Hodgson stays true to form, it should be relatively straightforward to second-guess his Three Lions starting line-up for the home Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania.

England are odds-on at 1/8 with Coral for the win, though does the England manager stick to what he knows or shake it up? In their last couple of qualifiers, Hodgson set up with a 4-4-2, utilising Jack Wilshere at the base of a diamond, flanked narrowly by Jordan Henderson and Fabian Delph, while Adam Lallana played just behind the front two.

This could have stayed intact, had it not been for the former Southampton star having to pull out of the squad due to injury. Therefore, the logical option would be to start Raheem Sterling in his place, after the 20-year-old featured as a substitute, adding an injection of pace.

However, Hodgson may prefer this kind of impact off the bench, and instead choose to play Ross Barkley, who has been in form for Everton in recent weeks, scoring in their last home match. This could be the kind of game that he is well suited to and, it will be a good test to see how well he takes to the free role for his country. Barkley’s impact at the World Cup, coming off the bench was certainly positive.

Wilshere is also injured; however, a more natural replacement exists in the form of Michael Carrick, who is likely to return to the England side after some outstanding performances for Manchester United recently.

It is decision time up front for Hodgson, after Harry Kane earned his first call-up to the squad, though the manager’s policy so far seems to have been letting new players acclimatise to being around the set-up and not giving them playing time on the first occasion that he calls them up.

Just like he did with Nathaniel Clyne, who will no doubt determine himself as England’s long-term right back. It takes a brave man to leave Wayne Rooney out of any starting line-up and, with the skipper unlikely to be played at the tip of a diamond, it can be safely assumed that one striker spot is his.