It's crunch time for Gareth Southgate as he prepares to make some big calls ahead of England's World Cup quarter-final showdown against Norway. And it looks like the Three Lions boss is set to unleash a revamped defence, with Marc Guehi and John Stones forming an unbreakable bond at the heart of the team – providing they can overcome their respective injury setbacks.
Guehi's been given the all-clear after a minor hamstring strain during that thrilling win over Mexico. And it seems he's made a remarkable recovery, ready to line up alongside his veteran partner Stones in just 24 hours' time. This central defensive duo will be making their first start together since England's opening match against Croatia – but what a partnership they could prove to be!
The defence is set for a shake-up, with Ezri Konsa swapping places with John Stones at right-back and Noni Madueke taking Bukayo Saka's place further up the pitch. The Arsenal winger's been nursing an Achilles tendinitis issue since March, but he's eager to get back on the pitch – even if it means playing catch-up.
Declan Rice is set to start in midfield after recovering from a nasty sickness bug that had him down for the count. And Reece James and Djed Spence are poised to offer some much-needed defensive cover from the bench, having both shaken off their own injury woes. But it's not just about the back-up – Guehi and Stones are looking like a match made in heaven at the heart of England's defence.
The big question is: can this revised line-up take down Norway's Erling Haaland? The Norwegian ace has been unstoppable so far, netting seven goals in the tournament – just one more than Harry Kane. Will Guehi and Stones be able to shut him down? One thing's for sure – it's going to be a real battle royale at the back!
The expected England line-up is: Pickford, Konsa, Guehi, Stones, O'Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Madueke, Gordon, Bellingham, Kane.