England's 2018 World Cup squad

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England's 2018 World Cup squad named, including Trent Alexander-Arnold (May 16 2018)

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold has been included in Gareth Southgate's 23-man England squad for the World Cup.

Manager Gareth Southgate has also named Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph and Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope in his intended group for this summer's tournament in Russia.

As had been widely speculated upon, Southgate decided against selecting City goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has spent the past year on loan at West Ham, or Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.

Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek has earned selection after season on loan at Crystal Palace, but there is no place for Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand.

Tottenham's Danny Rose and Ashley Young of Manchester United were the chosen left-backs, while Delph, who has impressed in that position this season for City, can also cover the position.

Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill has been given a place, while Pope will join Everton's Jordan Pickford and Stoke's Jack Butland as the squad's keepers.

England's starting XI on the first World Cup game:

Goalkeepers

Butland (Stoke), Pickford (Everton), Pope (Burnley).

Defenders

Walker, Stones (both Man City), Trippier, Rose (both Tottenham), Young, Jones (both Man Utd), Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Maguire (Leicester), Cahill (Chelsea).

Midfielders

Dier, Alli (both Tottenham), Henderson (Liverpool), Delph (Man City), Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Lingard (Man Utd).

Forwards

Kane (Tottenham), Rashford (Man Utd), Vardy (Leicester), Sterling (Man City), Welbeck (Arsenal).

Stand-by

Tom Heaton, James Tarkowski (both Burnley), Lewis Cook (Bournemouth), Jake Livemore (West Brom) and Adam Lallana (Liverpool).

Southgate, told the FA's official website: “I believe this is a squad which we can be excited about.

“It is a young group, but with some really important senior players so I feel the balance of the squad is good, both in terms of its experience, its character and also the positional balance.

“We have a lot of energy and athleticism in the team, but players that are equally comfortable in possession of the ball and I think people can see the style of play we’ve been looking to develop.

“The selection process has been over months really, it’s not just been the last few weeks. We feel the team are improving and we want to continue that momentum.

“The first call up for Trent Alexander-Arnold is well deserved. When we pick young players, it’s not just because they are young, it’s because their performances deserve it.

“We’ve also had a couple of injuries with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez, which is a huge blow for them personally and disappointing for us.”