Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford have already set Erik ten Hag a challenge at Manchester United

After being omitted from the latest England squad, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford must be beginning to wonder if they will require their passports later this year.

The Manchester United pair have been left out of Gareth Southgate's plans for next month's UEFA Nations League fixtures against Hungary (X2), Germany and Italy, leaving their World Cup aspirations in doubt. It is the second squad announcement in a row they have not featured in, after being left out for the March internationals against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast.

Southgate, instead, has opened the door for West Ham United ace Jarrod Bowen to earn his first call-up, whilst senior figures Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane remain at the forefront of his plans. In fairness, however, Bowen deserves his first taste of international football, enjoying a far more productive campaign than Sancho and Rashford.

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But with the United duo having now been left out of two consecutive England squads, their World Cup hopes are beginning to fade fast, with the start of the tournament in Qatar now just six months away. The pair, not that long ago, were being tipped to become the future of the national team, lining up on either flank and supporting Kane in attack.

The truth is, however, neither of them have done enough in the past 12 months to be guaranteed places within the squad, let alone justify becoming regular starters. Southgate knows who he can trust and Manchester City ace Sterling remains his most valued winger, regularly producing the goods when sporting a Three Lions shirt.

Sancho and Rashford, by comparison, although it is important to stress that opportunities have not been as