England: Southgate will start £471k-a-week trio against Italy in Nations League

Chelsea trio Reece James, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling are all set to start for England against Italy tonight in their penultimate game before the World Cup, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

Gareth Southgate’s side are in Milan for their Nations League clash with Gli Azzurri and Phillips reckons that three Blues players are in line to be named in the starting XI.

It’s been an underwhelming start to the season at club level for the £471,000 per-week trio, who are all yet to get going for Chelsea, and will therefore be hoping this break can be used as a welcome distraction.

But catching Southgate’s eye will be at the forefront of their minds, with the games against Italy and Germany in the coming days their final chance to impress ahead of the World Cup.

James finds himself in an intense battle at right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier, although a lot might depend on whether the England boss opts to go with a back three.

Meanwhile, Mount and Sterling both have intense competition in attack, although the latter has been a regular starter for many years and unless his form drops significantly in the next six weeks, will surely be in the XI for the opener with Iran, while the former also has every chance of getting picked.

Regardless, Phillips claimed the three Chelsea aces should all start at the San Siro against the Euro 2021 winners, at least.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I’ve had it on pretty good authority that Reece James, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling are all expected to get the nod from the start, with Ben Chilwell expected to be on the bench.”

Chelsea have nine English players in their current squad, although only Conor Gallagher really has any chance of going to Qatar from those