England team news: The expected line-up vs Montenegro

With the Czech Republic, on paper, the strongest side in England’s qualifying group, it would appear that Gareth Southgate’s men are going to breeze to Euro 2020 with ease.

A hat-trick from Raheem Sterling – along with a penalty from Harry Kane and an unfortunate own goal from Tomas Kalas – saw England win 5-0 against the Czechs on Friday evening. According to data company Gracenote, the Three Lions now have a 96 per cent chance of direct qualification to the tournament.

England are now faced with a deceptively tricky trip to Podgorica, however, to face a Montenegro side who were eight minutes from beating Bulgaria in Sofia on Friday, only to concede a late equaliser. Currently 46th in the world rankings – three below the Czech Republic and one above Bulgaria – the Montenegrins generally make for difficult opposition on home soil, as England found out during their Euro 2012 qualifiers when they could only eke out a 2-2 draw at the Podgorica City Stadium and Wayne Rooney was sent off in frustration late on.

England also drew with Montenegro in Podgorica in 2013 on the way to qualification for the World Cup in Brazil, though they did manage to beat the Brave Falcons – one of the best nicknames in international football, surely – at Wembley.

With Southgate sounding a warning about the “hostile environment” awaiting England, they can’t afford to underestimate their opponents. Southgate is expected to field a strong team, broadly similar to that which demolished the Czech Republic.

Rice, Barkley and Ward-Prowse to start?

Having sustained a hip injury after only 13 minutes against the Czech Republic, Eric Dier has been definitively ruled out of the Montenegro game. He could be replaced by Declan Rice, who was allowed to make his debut as a substitute on Friday after disavowing any previous fondness for the IRA.

With question marks hanging over the fitness of Dele Alli and Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley and James Ward-Prowse could also come into the starting XI. Henderson will earn his 50th cap should he continue to play through the ankle injury he picked up with Liverpool earlier this month, though it would probably make sense for Southgate to rest him.

Hudson-Odoi in for Sancho?

England’s other main injury worry is Jadon Sancho, the Borussia Dortmund winger in the midst of a breakout season. Southgate conceded that Sancho felt “a bit tight” after Friday’s game, which could mean a first start for Callum Hudson-Odoi after his 20-minute cameo at Wembley.

Other than that, Southgate is likely to go with the same shape and personnel as he did against the Czech Republic. Don’t change a winning formula, as they say.