BREAKING: Names for England squad starting to emerge

On the back of the completion of the Premier League season, there has been the slow emergence of the names of whom manager Roy Hodgson will calling up to the England squad for the World Cup.

So far it is clear that both Jack Wilshere and Ashley Cole have not made the squad, as well as reports beginning to surface that Tom Cleverly and Michael Carrick have also been left out.  Wilshere has struggled with fitness again which explains his exclusion.  Hodgson has preferred Baines and Shaw as his two left-backs over the vastly experienced Cole, who now looks set to retire from international football in the wake of his missing the plane.  Cleverly and Carrick are obvious casualties on the back of United’s abysmal campaign, so it will be interesting to see who Hodgson calls upon for his central players, but Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson are sure to make it, while it potentially opens the door for Frank Lampard.

Debates have already sprung up in light of Cole’s omission, with many citing that his big match experience would prove vital.  But the inclusion of Shaw at his expense must be seen as a positive step for England, who finally have an excellent crop of young players waiting in the wings.  The sooner Shaw is blooded for the national team the better, and given that England realistically are outsiders to win in Brazil, this was the right time to ax the Chelsea man.

England’s official 23-man squad is set to be released tomorrow, with Hodgson also naming seven players who will be on stand-by in case injuries force players out of the team in the build up to the tournament.