GARETH SOUTHGATE names his 23-man England World Cup squad on Wednesday.

Will the England boss play it safe with tried and tested players, or make the odd wildcard selection? Your guess is as good as ours.

Here the Leader sports team speculate on who Southgate might select and who they would opt for as England look to make a lasting impression - for all the right reasons - in Russia.

NICK HARRISON

GUESSING England's 23-man squad for the World Cup is probably not as difficult as boss Gareth Southgate thinks.

The make-up of his side has stayed pretty much the same since taking over from one-game wonder Sam Allardyce.

His Russian roster is hardly going to grab anyone by the Cossacks and don't expect too many shocks when he goes public on Wednesday.

We all know Southgate favours playing three at the back and that any team he picks is based around Tottenham's over-rated Eric Dier in the holding role.

Dier's straight in as the first name on the teamsheet but who will be England's number one.

Joe Hart will be one of the three keepers but he's not good enough to start.

Jordan Pickford has improved at Everton this season, the fact that Jack Butland couldn't help keep Stoke up may go against him so is it time to blood The Clarets' inexperienced Nick Pope?

The Manchester United pairing of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are certs at centre back with John Stones ahead of Chelsea's Gary Cahill, who has missed John Terry so much this season.

And Cahill will probably miss out altogether with Harry Maguire possibly the better option to Alfie Mawson and Michael Keane.

One thing England do have is wing-backs galore. On the right you'd take the brilliant Kyle Walker, the attacking Kieran Trippier and Liverpool's up-and-coming Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is definitely better going forward than he is defending.

On the left, Danny Rose is top of the pecking order ahead of Southampton's Ryan Bertrand and West Ham's Aaron Cresswell.

Now here's the problem area. In a department where flair, creativity and nous is needed, England haven't got much.

Jordan Henderson and the rejuvenated Jack Wilshere will keep things ticking along while Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard provide more attacking options.

Fabien Delph's ability to slip in at left back makes the Manchester City title-winner a cert but I'm not sure about Adam Lallana.

Not even Chubby Checkers twists and turns more than Lallana, whose fitness record is not good either.

Add a four-man forward line of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling makes it 22.

So who will get that extra space?

Danny Welbeck or Ashley Young? They'd be the easy calls but what about going for someone different? Someone fresh, whose going to give it all, given half the chance.

Watford's Will Hughes, Ainsley Maitland-Niles at Arsenal or Fulham's Championship wonder kid Ryan Sessegnon. Go on Gareth, give one of them a go! Okay Ashley Young it is then!

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Joe Hart, Jack Butland.

Defenders: Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand, John Stones, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Harry Maguire.

Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Jack Wilshere, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Fabien Delph, Ryan Sessegnon.

Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling.

TOM NORRIS

I DON'T envy Gareth Southgate, that's for sure.

It's not an easy job trying to pick 23 English players worthy of taking to Russia. It will certainly be one of the weakest group of players England have taken to a World Cup, but every single person on that plane will fancy their chances of starting for the Three Lions.

The goalkeeper situation is the perfect example of the task facing Southgate. I've plumped for Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and Joe Hart and any one of those three could play.

Hart's powers are waning, while Pickford and Butland are on an upward curve, but none of the three are too far ahead of the others to make a solid claim.

Presuming Southgate plays three or five at the back - depending on your preference - it's important to have depth and with John Stones, Harry Maguire, Eric Dier and Phil Jones as out and out central defenders and Kyle Walker - more than capable of slotting in - there appears to be enough depth with Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand and Trent Alexander-Arnold as full-back options with Walker.

Alexander-Arnold is worth of inclusion. Southgate looked set to take Joe Gomez and his Liverpool team mate has been more impressive this season, playing in high-profile games at just 19.

The Liverpool defender is joined by another wildcard selection in Ryan Sessegnon, who is one of seven midfielders in a largely flexible squad - the one big plus for the England boss.

Sessegnon is worth taking for experience. Not everybody will agree, but he's the future and a trip to Russia will be more beneficial to him than someone like Jake Livermore.

Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli are three almost certain to be heading to Russia, while I've included Adam Lallana and Jack Wilshere despite their injury problems, but because of their obvious class. If Jonjo Shelvey is being talked about for England then Wilshere - fitness permitted - has to be included due to his undoubted class.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is another who warrants a place as a young up and coming potential star of the future.

The forwards pretty much pick themselves with Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling included.

Danny Welbeck is the one who might raise some eyebrows but he saves most of his best football for England, he's got pace and is likely to fit into the system deployed by Southgate.

Good luck boys, you'll need it.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, Joe Hart.

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand, John Stones, Eric Dier, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones.

Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere, Jesse Lingard, Dele Alli, Adam Lallana, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ryan Sessegnon.

Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Danny Welbeck.

CHARLIE CROASDALE

GARETH SOUTHGATE has made several decisions since taking over the England job which have harked back to national team manager’s he played under, and a safety-first 23-man squad is what I expect on Wednesday.

Southgate – whose 3-4-2-1 system is akin of Terry Venables’ England system – looks set to adopt a sensible policy of naming an experienced squad nice and early and appears to have learned the lesson of Glenn Hoddle’s late selection debacle in France 1998 when his refusal to select Paul Gascoigne caused major frictions within a previously harmonious camp.

In goal, Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland are certainties and it’s more a case of which one gets the nod as number one. I don’t see much point in taking Joe Hart if he doesn’t have an international future, so Nick Pope – so impressive for Burnley this season – deserves to go.

England are blessed with several excellent full-backs, so much so that the likes of Ryan Bertrand and Trent Alexander-Arnold could miss out. Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier are sure to travel with Ashley Young and Danny Rose looking favourites to accompany them on the plane.

If Southgate retains his three-man defence, Phil Jones, John Stones and Harry Maguire would appeal as being the first-choice, with James Tarkowski, Chris Smalling and versatile Eric Dier as back-up. Dier is also a likely starter alongside Jordan Henderson in central midfield if Jack Wilshire is left out, which Southgate seems set to do given his lack of involvement in the recent friendlies.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek impressed against Germany in November and having assured Southgate of his fitness in recent weeks with Crystal Palace, should get a call-up, especially in light of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s desperately disappointing injury.

Jesse Lingard deserves to travel owing to excellent form for Manchester United, while Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy are all certainties.

Marcus Rashford gets in ahead of Danny Welbeck, Andy Carroll or Glenn Murray due to his pace and directness which could be a real asset off the bench.

That leaves two midfield spots and I think Southgate will go for two players he continues to show immense faith in: Jake Livermore and Adam Lallana. The former is seen as a steady influence if required in midfield and does provide a like-for-like back-up to Dier or Henderson, while Lallana is clearly blessed with talent and was England’s best player prior to his serious injury which kept him off the pitch for the best part of a year.

I’m cautiously optimistic about England’s chances and have taken great encouragement from our recent friendly performances against the likes of Germany, Spain and Holland.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, Nick Pope.

Defenders: Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Ashley Young, Phil Jones, John Stones, Harry Maguire, James Tarkowski, Chris Smalling.

Midfielders: Eric Dier, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jordan Henderson, Jake Livermore, Dele Alli, Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard.

Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford.