Gareth Southgate admitted that England’s over-reliance on Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling is a ‘concern’ after his side drew 0-0 with Italy on Saturday - a problem that could be answered by Callum Wilson.
The Three Lions manager started Roma’s Tammy Abraham upfront at Molineux and only named two out and out strikers in the squad for the recent Nations League matches, with Tottenham leading-man Kane the other. England enjoyed 60% possession, played 642 passes and had 12 shots, but only put four on target and failed to beat Italy stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The performance once again drew criticism of Southgate, who is said to be far too negative a manager for such a bright and exciting crop of attacking talent. His inclusion of just two number nines in the squad has raised questions about his reliance on Spurs man Kane to perform, while former Chelsea youngster Abraham - after an impressive spell in Serie A - failed to make the desired impact.
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And Southgate admitted that his reliance on Kane and Manchester City winger Sterling is a concern, but claimed that this period of games was a chance to ‘look at different players’.
"Clearly across these four games we're needing to look at different players ahead of the World Cup," he said. "Today was part of that process. We knew on the back of a physically tough game in Germany the other night, also to refresh the team was going to be important.
"It's the same as I said yesterday - of course you're wanting to win the games and we're disappointed not to win the game. I think we had two or three very good chances that we have to take. You don't get loads of chances in games against the top-level teams, that's how it is.
"We'd like to have created more given the amount of possession we had and we definitely used the ball better in the back two thirds of the field than we did the other night so that was pleasing. But in the end we've not got the goal to make the difference.
"We're very, very reliant on Harry and Raheem for our goals at the moment and that is a concern."
Newcastle fans may argue the point that if the England manager was using this period to ‘look at different players’ and he needed someone to add danger in front of goal, then Magpies frontman Wilson should have been included.
The 30-year-old top-scored at St James’ Park last season with eight goals despite playing just 1,386 minutes - the equivalent of 15.4 full games - and would have scoffed up chances that fell to a wasteful England side last night.
While a spot in the starting lineup is off the cards, Wilson’s speed and nack for being in the right place would have been of great use for England last night - and during the previous games with Hungary and Germany. It could also be of great use to Southgate in Qatar.
