England predicted line-up vs. Republic of Ireland: Four debutants ready as Newcastle and Arsenal stars start

Lee Carsley will take charge of his first match as interim England head coach on Saturday when the Three Lions take on the Republic of Ireland in their opening match of the Nations League – but the new man in charge will have to make do without several key players courtesy of injuries.

Experienced players like Luke Shaw and Kyle Walker were left out of the initial squad due to a lack of match fitness, Jude Bellingham sustained a calf injury in Real Madrid training and three of the 26 players selected for Carsley’s squad have since withdrawn and will miss the trip to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

That increases the chances of England debuts for Carsley’s four new call-ups – Noni Madueke, Tino Livramento, Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White, but with a new man in the dugout there could easily be some selection surprises in store.

We’ve collected all of the latest team news and fitness updates below and ventured our best prediction for Carsley’s likely starting line-up. Based on squad composition 4-2-3-1 formation with an emphasis on dynamic and direct play through the midfield and out wide, but the former Ireland international has not publicly confirmed his plans and often played with a 4-3-3 when in charge of the Under-21s.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Jordan Pickford will likely start in goal, while England could well have a fresh look at full-back with Shaw and Walker out and Kieran Trippier retiring from international duty ahead of the squad announcement.

With no Shaw and no Ben Chilwell, England will have to play a player out of position at left-back and could give the role to Livramento, Ezri Konsa, Levi Colwill or Rico Lewis, although the Manchester City utility man typically played in midfield under Carsley with the junior side. John Stones and Marc Guéhi can reprise their defensive partnership from Euro 2024 at centre-back, but Harry Maguire remains an option. Arsenal’s Ben White has chosen not to return to the international fold despite the change in management.

Midfield

Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Conor Gallagher, Gomes and Lewis are the obvious options to play in a two-man midfield pivot, with Adam Wharton left out of the squad and told that he may be expected to spend more time with the Under-21s by the new head coach. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been listed as a defender and in the absence of Walker, Trippier, White and Reece James is liable to play at right-back.

If Carsley does play with a number ten, then Cole Palmer won’t be among the options – the Chelsea midfielder withdrew from the squad with a minor injury and has returned to his club for treatment. Gibbs-White has been listed as a midfielder rather than a forward in the squad, suggesting he could be an option there, or as a wide player in a three-man midfield if Carsley heads in that direction.

Forwards

Ollie Watkins and Phil Foden have both left the training camp, the former with a minor injury and the latter due to a virus. As with Palmer, neither will feature in either Nations League match in the coming days.

With Ivan Toney left out completely after he completed a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, Harry Kane will likely take the number nine role and the captain’s armband, while the returning Jack Grealish is among the options on the wing.

Full predicted England line-up

Pickford; Livramento, Guéhi, Stones, Alexander-Arnold; Rice, Mainoo, Eze; Saka, Gordon, Kane.