England's World Cup starts on SUNDAY as Gareth Southgate rethinks plan to rest stars for Lithuanian dead rubber
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Gareth Southgate is ready to begin England's World Cup preparations in Lithuania — by resting the temptation to make wholesale changes.
Boss Southgate is considering giving chances to Jack Butland, Michael Keane and Jesse Lingard in Sunday evening's dead-rubber final Russia 2018 qualifier.
However, he also wants a strong line-up to try to maintain the Three Lions' unbeaten record in the group — and is determined to finish the campaign with an eighth win out of 10.
Southgate was thinking about more changes for the match in Vilnius, which will be played on artificial turf.
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But on the back of Thursday's lacklustre, last-gasp win over Slovenia at Wembley that secured England's spot in Russia next summer, he wants to keep up the intensity — despite being aware he needs to give some fringe players big-game experience.
First-choice keeper Joe Hart wants to play, but Southgate will at some stage have to give Butland some minutes.
He will either do that in Lithuania or during a high profile warm-up friendly — England play Germany and Brazil back-to-back at Wembley next month, while the European qualification play-offs are happening.
Out-of-form midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is struggling for confidence.
(Image: Getty)
Everton defender Keane has impressed around the camp and could come in for Gary Cahill.
Harry Kane has made it clear to Southgate that he wants to play, too — the in-form striker is eager for another cap and more goals — which may mean he starts as captain again. Jermain Defoe could get minutes from the bench.
England did not suffer any injuries in the Slovenia game but Southgate insisted he would not send any players back to their clubs.
He told the players after Thursday's match that he wants to deliver a performance in Lithuania for the travelling fans.