England have injury worries so who is Gareth Southgate sweating over before the World Cup? 

If getting relegated from the Nations League in September wasn’t bad enough, England’s preparations for the World Cup starting in November have become even more problematic after a spate of untimely injuries.

England’s first game in Qatar kicks off against Iran on November 21, yet boss Gareth Southgate has plenty of fitness concerns both short and long term heading into the clash as he weighs up his squad and indeed his starting XI for the Group B fixture.

Southgate has concerns in nearly every position but defence and midfield will be of most concern ahead of him picking his squad on November 10.

Sportsmail looks at the stars who are in a race against time to leave the treatment table and make the plane to Qatar, or will enter the tournament carrying large fitness concerns.

Bukayo Saka

Perhaps one of the biggest unknowns right now is how Bukayo Saka’s injury against Nottingham Forest will affect the Arsenal forward over the coming weeks, even though the early prognosis seems to be positive.

Saka took a heavy hit in the opening minute of the 5-0 win for the Gunners, even setting up the opening goal for Gabriel Martinelli.

But he was eventually replaced less than half-an-hour into the game after receiving two bouts of treatment on the pitch before hobbling off. 

There are at least optimistic signs coming out from the Arsenal camp, indicating the problem doesn’t look as serious as it first looked. 

England team medics were in touch with their Arsenal counterparts on Monday to check on the extent of Saka’s injury and were told that the early signs were encouraging. 

Saka has undergone precautionary tests meaning there remains some apprehension behind the scenes and he is not out of the woods just yet.

Bukayo Saka had to limp off in Arsenal’s victory over Nottingham Forest at the end of October

Reece James

One of Southgate’s biggest headaches heading into Qatar. Reece James was in contention to be England’s starting right-back at the World Cup but his current knee injury makes him a huge doubt to even make the plane.

Reece James limped off injured during a Champions League clash at AC Milan in mid-October, and the diagnosis was that he would be out for the next eight weeks – effectively ruling him out of the World Cup.

Whether it is out of defiance or in sheer hope of making the plane, the Chelsea star refuses to confirm he will not feature this winter and has vowed to do ‘all he can’ in a bid to join up with the Three Lions.

James had initially departed the San Siro pitch as a precaution but the damage is worse than first feared and having not even started running again yet, his selection would be a huge gamble by Southgate. 

Confirmed by the Blues, James will enter November travelling to Dubai to try and speed up his rehabilitation programme. 

Reece James is in a desperate battle to be fit for the World Cup since limping out at AC Milan

Kalvin Phillips

Apart from Leeds United’s bank account there have not been many winners from Phillips’ £45million move to Manchester City from Elland Road during the summer.

Phillips has barely featured this term and is currently in a race to be fit for the start of the World Cup having undergone surgery for a shoulder injury back in September.

But even should Phillips return he is far from match fit. Since joining City he has only featured for 14 minutes across three matches – still not yet making his full debut for the Premier League champions.

Is it realistic with that sort of build-up to expect him to hit the ground running in Qatar with his best form? He may have to given Southgate’s lack of defensive midfielders, and the 26-year-old is one of his most trusted stars. 

Kalvin Phillips could be fit in time for the tournament but has hardly played since the summer

Kyle Walker

Phillips’ Manchester City team-mate Walker is also facing a big battle to return from injury ahead of the kick-off in Qatar.

Walker had been substituted with an abdominal injury during Manchester City’s derby win over Manchester United at the start of October and his participation in the World Cup has been in doubt ever since.

Along with Phillips, City boss Pep Guardiola provided the latest assessment on Walker’s fitness before the World Cup – and remains hopeful the right-back and back-up central defender can be ready in time for Qatar.

‘They [Walker and Phillips] are optimistic. They are in touch with Gareth [Southgate]. Hopefully they can be ready and get selected.’

Kyle Walker’s fitness is touch and go for England ahead of their first match in three weeks

Jordan Henderson

The good news is Jordan Henderson isn’t actually injured, with the Liverpool midfielder likely to provide some highly valued experience to the England side at the World Cup.

The bad news is that in a defensive midfield position that is already thin in numbers, neither is he in the best match fitness heading towards Qatar.

The 32-year-old has already missed five Liverpool games this term with a hamstring injury, and that’s in a Reds side who have really struggled at the start of the Premier League season.

Henderson has only completed 90 minutes three times in this campaign and he was also taken off out of precaution in the recent Champions League win at Ajax following a robust sliding challenge that left him needing treatment. Southgate right now can be assured he will be available but can he play regular 90 minute intervals during the tournament?

Jordan Henderson has struggled to complete regular 90 minutes for Liverpool this season

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

One position Southgate doesn’t have too many fears over, at least injury wise, is at centre forward, with captain Harry Kane looking in good shape ahead of the Qatar trip.

It’s back-up where he may have concern though. At Euro 2020, it was Dominic Calvert-Lewin filling the role and as the World Cup edges closer the Everton striker is likely to be Kane’s stand-in once more.

But can he stay fit and can he rediscover his goal scoring form?

He only returned from a knee injury to play for the first time this season in October and he has slowly been building up his minutes since.

The 25-year-old has played five games post injury, yet has only found the net once as he tries to rediscover his scoring touch, while also hoping not to reaggravate his knee issue.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has only just returned from injury and could still be short of fitness

John Stones

Unlike City team-mates Phillips and Walker, Stones has already returned from a spell on the sidelines having missed six games recently through a hamstring problem.

Southgate’s issue though is getting centre-back minutes into one of his first-choice selections for the position.

While Stones returned to face Leicester at the end of October, his 90 minutes came at right-back.

The good news is there appears to be little flare up from his previous injury but Southgate will be desperate for him to win his central place back to try and build some form ahead of the tournament, especially in light of his likely centre-back partner’s own issues…

John Stones (left) has overcome a hamstring injury and not played regularly as a centre-back

Harry Maguire 

Like Stones, Maguire has been nursing a hamstring injury and also made a comeback at the end of October, putting in a timely clean sheet in the 1-0 win over West Ham in his first full Premier League match since United’s 4-0 debacle defeat at Brentford in August.

But like Stones he also needs some gametime to not only build up his match sharpness but his confidence too, having been made a scapegoat for United’s on-pitch struggles in the last year.

Southgate has never lost faith in the centre-back, who to his credit has rarely let England down, and he is unlikely too now with such a lack of options to replace him.

But despite his decent showing at Old Trafford, his inclusion was only on the basis of Victor Lindelof being ill and he could soon drop out the side again – leaving Southgate with a first choice centre-back pairing with barely any minutes between them heading to Qatar. It’s far from ideal for the England boss. 

Harry Maguire came back to form for Manchester United against West Ham but his fitness and form remains a concern for Southgate heading towards the World Cup