If there is one position for which Gareth Southgate has an embarrassment of riches, it is right-back.
And if fans were canvassed for their view on who should fill it, there is a good chance the vote would be split three or even four ways. But with only three England matches between now and the start of Qatar 2022, it is clear which player is in the driving seat.
Two years ago, after flouting Covid rules, Kyle Walker feared his England career was in jeopardy. And, a few months later, he expressed exactly the same fears after being sent off against Iceland in September, 2020.
But, five months before the start of the World Cup, Southgate paid a glowing tribute to 32-year-old Walker. The England manager said: "Kyle Walker isn’t captain of his club but he’s such a man within the group, on the pitch, off the pitch.
"I think he’s matured a lot over the last two or three years. He’s won the league four times so he’s got confidence from what he’s done as a player. He’s been in a World Cup semi-final with us and a European final so he’s got a lot of big-match experience.
"He’s definitely one who I think has matured. He doesn’t have to be really vocal but his manner, his determination in the way he works. There was a chance that Germany had where Trippier got up at the far post and defended it really well but if you look at Walker, his desire to stop the cross, it means that the guy’s got to loft it rather than just be able to whip it in.
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"They are little things that the majority of the stadium probably don’t give a second thought but when you are looking at what wins football matches, they are the things that win football matches.
"That hunger, that drive … he brings that and he brings that on the training pitch. Trippier is another like that. And the others have to get on board and make sure their standards are the same level."
With their ages seemingly no problem - Trippier turns 32 in September - the two senior full-backs look certain to be included in Southgate’s World Cup squad. And with the England manager a huge fan of Reece James, that could cast doubt on Trent Alexander-Arnold getting a ticket to Qatar.
Meanwhile, Southgate goes into Tuesday night’s game against Hungary looking for a first win in four matches to nip some scepticism about England’s World Cup chances in the bud.
He said: "If we won, it would be a more enjoyable couple of months but it won’t change how I view the next period. We all want to leave with a win and if we win, we’ve still got the chance to win this (Nations League) group.
"We also want to send the supporters home having seen a really good performance. But the noise (the criticism) will still be there because if we win, we’ll have ‘only beaten Hungary’ and so on. That’s the reality. If we don’t win, then … different story, of course."
