Ukraine v England: Three Lions aim to extend perfect start

Having been a prominent supporter of LGBTQ+ rights before leaving for Saudi Arabia, Henderson has come in for criticism and some fans have suggested turning their back on the former Liverpool captain if and when he takes to the field.

Maguire to move aside?

Southgate included Harry Maguire in his squad despite the former Manchester United captain not starting a Premier League game this season.

He played 23 minutes off the bench in Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Arsenal having slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford – although he has maintained the faith of his England boss.

Maguire’s 57 caps dwarf the combined eight won by the other three centre-backs in the squad but he could yet lose his grip on a starting berth as Southgate turns an eye to the future with the likes of Levi Colwill, Marc Guehi and Fikayo Tomori – as well as the in-form Lewis Dunk – pushing to start.

Whoever Southgate chooses, he will hope to continue a run of three successive clean sheets in meetings with Ukraine. The Three Lions are 20/23 to extend that run while a win to nil is 6/5 in the Ukraine v England betting odds.

Ready, Eddie, go!

As one England door may be creaking to a close, Eddie Nketiah will be hoping to firmly put his foot in another.

The Arsenal forward has been called into the senior squad for the first time and has a goalscoring pedigree at international level with a record 16 goals for the England Under-21s.

He has started the season well for the Gunners and will be aiming to show he can be in the conversation for a supporting role to captain Harry Kane come the finals next summer.

Nketiah is 7/5 to be on target if he gets on and 4/1 to score the last goal of the game.

You do the maths

England could actually secure qualification for Euro 2024 during the current international break – although it would require a very unlikely series of results.

Victory over Ukraine, priced at 4/9, would be a start but they would also need Italy to beat North Macedonia on Saturday.

England then face Scotland in a friendly on Tuesday, when a win for Italy over Ukraine and a shock Malta success against North Macedonia would send Southgate’s side to Germany.

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All odds and markets correct as of date of publication