Malta v England: The big talking points

Have City stars sobered up?

England’s quintet of bleary-eyed Manchester City players rocked up at St George’s Park on Tuesday evening on the back of some wild celebrations.

Jack Grealish was front and centre of the revelry after completing the treble by winning the Champions League against Inter Milan on Saturday evening. John Stones, Kalvin Phillips, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden also partied after making history in Istanbul all the way onto Monday’s rain-soaked parade in Manchester.

The five players all travelled to Malta for the match and Southgate has a decision to make over their availability.

New faces to feature?

Eberechi Eze is eyeing a senior debut after being included in Southgate’s squad for the first time. This opportunity has been a long time coming for the 24-year-old, who would have been involved sooner had it not been for an Achilles injury suffered on the same day as he found he had made England’s provisional Euro 2020 squad in May 2021.

Inspired form in the latter stages of the season under Roy Hodgson saw him included for June’s double-header.

There is also a chance that Levi Colwill could make his debut. Part of the England Under-21s squad heading to this summers Euros, he trained with the squad this week after his Brighton team-mate Lewis Dunk was forced to withdraw through injury.

Initially just a training role, Colwill has been brought with the squad to Malta so has a chance of also making his bow.

Can the Maltese cause England a scare?

The Malta v England betting odds underline the task facing the team ranked 172nd in the world. England are 1/22 to win a match in which Malta are 45/1 to triumph in a sold-out Ta’ Qali National Stadium on Friday evening.

The Falcons head into the match fresh from last week’s 1-0 win in Luxembourg – a victory which may not resonate worldwide but against a team 80 places above them in the FIFA rankings it suggests quick progress in Michele Marcolini’s three games in charge.

Malta also frustrated Italy, with the reigning European champions only managing a 2-0 win at Ta’ Qali in March. England are 11/2 to win by the same scoreline while an away victory and under 3.5 goals is priced at 11/8.