England v Bosnia LIVE: Line-ups and team news as Kieran Trippier captains hosts in Euro 2024 warm-up tonight

With Jordan Pickford an automatic choice in goal, the three behind him are not just vying for two plane tickets, but the right to be his go-to backup in-tournament. In defence, the alternatives at full-back must be decided, especially on the left given Luke Shaw’s ongoing injury issue, while four centre-backs in the squad tally just seven caps between them, with two as yet untested.

Further forward, Southgate must choose whether he wants to see Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold in midfield dovetailing with Declan Rice before the tournament starts, or if it’s more important to give other fringe options a chance to succeed and earn a place in the squad, while the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Eberechi Eze will be hoping for a go with Anthony Gordon currently out with an injury. Competition for places in the wide areas of attack are fierce – and then there’s the Harry Kane understudy to fully decide on.

Read below for The Independent’s thoughts on who might start tonight.

England have just two matches this week before Euro 2024 is upon them – with Gareth Southgate still needing to refine his squad and decide which seven he is going to cut from his preliminary group.

The first of those warm-up friendlies takes place on Monday night with the Three Lions in action against Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a host of absentees meaning spots are definitely up for grabs if players impress when handed the chance to start.

But who should get the nod?

Recent results haven’t been great for Southgate and Co – no wins in the last three.

Those latest games did come after a run of eight wins in nine, to be fair, which spanned most of qualifying. But of late it has been average at best: 1-1 away to North Macedonia, a 1-0 defeat to Brazil and a 2-2 draw with Belgium.

Only one goal in those three matches scored by an England player in open play, that being Jude Bellingham’s late equaliser in the last match.

Southgate will be hoping for a significantly better return in these two outings.

England’s summer fixture lineup….so far!

3 June vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Newcastle – friendly

7 June vs Iceland, Wembley – friendly

16 June vs Serbia, Gelsenkirchen – Euro 2024 Group C

20 June vs Denmark, Frankfurt – Euro 2024 Group C

25 June vs Slovenia, Koln – Euro 2024 Group C

Gareth Southgate believes England’s Euros bid will benefit from cricket star Ben Stokes’ “brilliant session” on adapting a fearless mindset whilst embracing pressure and nerves.

The Euro 2020 finalists’ preparations to go one better this summer are under way, with the majority of the squad convening at their temporary County Durham base on Wednesday.

England welcomed a special guest to Rockliffe Hall over the weekend as they put in the groundwork for Germany, with Test captain Stokes imparting his wisdom to those going for Euro 2024 glory.

Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Dzeko believes England can win Euro 2024.

England host Bosnia in a friendly fixture at St James’ Park on Monday and the visitors arrived in Newcastle earlier on Sunday.

It is the start of a new era for Bosnia after they appointed former forward Sergej Barbarez as head coach in April following a failure to qualify for this summer’s European Championship in Germany.

After Monday’s clash with England, Bosnia will travel to Italy for a friendly and Dzeko, who spent five years at Manchester City, feels both teams can win Euro 2024.

Gareth Southgate says Luke Shaw has gone from a long shot to having a “good chance” of recovering from injury in time to make England’s Euro 2024 squad.

The 28-year-old has endured an injury-hit season with Manchester United and has been laid low with his latest muscle issue since mid-February.

Shaw was expected to return in early May only to suffer a setback, leaving the left-back in a race against time to make this summer’s European Championship squad.

Southgate included the Euro 2020 final goalscorer in his 33-man training group but admitted he was a “long shot” and somewhat of a “wild card”.

Shaw is set to miss both warm-up friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland, but the England boss has been enthused by his progress.

The 30-year-old Bayern Munich striker was among 26 players who trained at Middlesbrough’s Rockliffe Park headquarters on Sunday ahead of Monday night’s friendly clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Kane missed the final two games of his club’s season with a back injury sustained in the Champions League semi-final second-leg defeat by Real Madrid.

England will enter Euro 2024 as one of the favourites but Southgate is worried by injury problems in the midfield after omitting his vice-captain Henderson and dropping Phillips, a stalwart of his Euro 2020 squad, in March. The England manager revealed he has never had such a complicated build-up to a tournament with so many injuries, particularly in defence.

But in midfield, Southgate faces a question of who to partner with Rice – with the uncapped Adam Wharton and Curtis Jones named in his 33-man training squad and Trent Alexander-Arnold a midfield option – and believes he may have to change his tactics if Arsenal’s £105m signing is ruled out. He is reluctant to use Jude Bellingham in a deeper role in midfield but accepts he may have to.

Maguire and Shaw linked up with England early in a bid to prove their fitness as they recover from muscle injuries that have kept them out for a month and three months respectively.

They are set to miss Monday’s friendly at St James’ Park against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland’s visit to Wembley on Friday but are progressing well, along with Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon, who was also absent from training.