Gareth Southgate was dealt another injury blow on Wednesday, as Ben Chilwell suffered a muscle injury in the Champions League.
The Chelsea defender felt his left hamstring go in the dying moments of their 2-1 win against Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge. He is now a doubt for England's World Cup opener against Iran in just 18 days' time, with Southgate's squad announced next Thursday.
Chilwell is the latest Englishman to suffer an injury in the days leading up to the World Cup. Reece James and Kyle Walker-Peters are almost certain to miss the tournament through injury, while Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips are still to make their comebacks.
Chilwell's injury leaves Southgate wondering who he should play at left wing-back. Presuming the England boss adopts his favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is the big favourite to occupy that role in Chilwell's absence.
But what if Shaw gets injured? Or what if Shaw, who has struggled with his fitness in the past, needs a rest? Thankfully for Southgate, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given him with an alternative in Bukayo Saka - who is a winger by trade.
The 21-year-old has played at left wing-back for club and country - doing so as recently as September - and is likely to be fit in time for the World Cup after returning to training on Wednesday. Saka suffered an ankle injury against Nottingham Forest last Sunday.
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"We’ve got to find Arsenal a solution to the left-back problem, I’d like to see Saka go to left-back," said Gunners legend Martin Keown in April when Arteta was struggling for numbers.
“I know that’s radical, but I’d rather see that than [Granit] Xhaka there, who is going to get exposed, if you’re creating such a weakness in the team, then you’ve got to fill it. I think Saka could go to left-back and still do damage [in attack] from the left."
Keown went on to say: "It’s about the best XI, but if you’ve got an issue with a player to such an extent that everything’s going down that side and mistakes are being made and you don’t believe in the player, then you can’t play him."
Perhaps the performance that may deter Southgate from playing Saka at left wing-back was his display against Italy in September. A lot of critics thought the youngster was wasted in the position, with several newspapers giving him a scathing 5/10 rating.
"Starting Bukayo Saka was an interesting call at left-back," Ex-England ace Chris Sutton told Daily Mail. "It’s a tough ask to go to the other side of the pitch, and I’m not saying he isn’t capable, but it was a trial by the manager that didn’t work out how he wanted."
Southgate's other options
As Keown suggests, Saka is a radical choice at left wing-back and is more effective in an advanced role. A more likely alternative to Shaw is Kieran Trippier, who has often played at left wing-back for England - including against Croatia in their Euro 2020 opener.
Yet Trippier may be needed on the other flank if Walker and James are unavailable. Another option is Ryan Sessegnon, who is a regular for Tottenham under Antonio Conte. He scored from left wing-back in the 3-2 win against Bournemouth last Saturday.
Crystal Palace fans reading this will screaming Tyrick Mitchell's name. The two-cap international emerged as Patrick Vieira's first-choice left-back last term and has continued his good form. The 23-year-old must feel confident about his World Cup hopes.
Long-shot candidates include Leicester star James Justin, who is a right-back by trade but is often deployed on the other flank, Newcastle duo Matt Targett and Dan Burn, Brentford regular Rico Henry and West Ham stalwart Aaron Cresswell.
In terms of England's right-back problem, Arteta has also given Southgate an alternative in Ben White. The Englishman has primarily played at right-back this season and would be a good choice for the right centre-back role often filled by Walker or James.
Much will depend on whether more England internationals get injured before the World Cup. There are just two Premier League fixtures remaining and every Three Lions regular - from Harry Kane to Raheem Sterling - will be hoping to get through them unscathed.
