He cut senior players while blooding youngsters he believed could help him build a passing team with enterprise and verve. So, opportunity knocks louder for uncapped youngsters like Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Joe Gomez and Tammy Abraham and late replacements like Jack Cork and Jake Livermore. There may be five uncapped squad members in total but as Tottenham's Eric Dier, now the key figure in a depleted midfield, said: "We have to challenge ourselves - that's the right mentality." Not, as he asserts, that there could an ever be such a thing as an England friendly against these sides. The upside for him could only come if his fledgling reserves can somehow fashion a victory over their greatest continental rivals on Friday.

Source: The Star November 08, 2017 18:45 UTC