There is now just a matter of weeks before the Premier League comes to a halt for the World Cup to take place.
This year’s tournament is taking place in Qatar, with the climate of the host nation meaning the competition is being played mid-winter in the interests of players, coaches and travelling fans. And with the tournament falling in the middle of the Premier League season, it will be different than any that have gone before for UK-based players.
Usually, World Cup squad announcements come after the season has ended, but that won’t be the case this time. Nottingham Forest have two Premier League games remaining before the break for the tournament.
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Once those games have been played, players will jet off to represent their countries. Brennan Johnson, Neco Williams and Wayne Hennessey could all be called up by Wales, while Remo Freuler, Renan Lodi, Moussa Niakhaté and Cheikhou Kouyaté could all also feature for their respective nations.
Another Forest player who could make the journey to Qatar is Dean Henderson. The goalkeeper, who is on loan at the City Ground from Manchester United, has caught the eye with his performances this season.
He first broke into the England squad back in 2019, but has made just one international appearance so far. The 25-year-old was included in the squad for the Nations League games back in September.
But he faces stiff competition in the goalkeeping department with Jordan Pickford (Everton) and Nick Pope (Newcastle United) currently ahead of him. It means the Reds aces faces an anxious wait to see if he is included in Gareth Southgate's squad.
With an announcement imminent, here is everything you need to know.
When will Gareth Southgate name final squad?
The England boss is set to name his final 26-man squad for the tournament on Thursday, November 10, two days before Forest’s final Premier League game before the break for the World Cup. It means the squad will be announced in just over a week.
It gives Henderson one last chance to impress when Forest take on Brentford on Saturday, a game which Southgate could be keeping an eye on.
Who is on the 55-man list?
While there has been no official confirmation of the full longlist submitted by Southgate to FIFA last month, there have been reports of some of the players who have been included. James Maddison, along with Eberechi Eze, Callum Wilson, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Lewis Dunk, Danny Welbeck and Trevoh Chalobah are those to be named.
There is no mention of Henderson in reports, but that doesn’t mean he is not on the list. Southgate will have to cut the list by 29 players when finalising his squad.
Are there other Forest players who should go to the World Cup? Tell us in the comments section
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