Five surprises in Allardyce’s England squad feat. Manchester United and West Ham stars

Sun 24 July 2016 10:30, UK Updated Tue 5 June 2018 23:23, UK

Jesse Lingard

A quick winger is always popular with Allardyce, and with Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana the only two natural wide players in the squad this summer, this is an opening for another. With his FA Cup winning goal against Crystal Palace and a new contract said to be in the offing, Lingard could make the most of the opportunity.

Allardyce loves to have pacey players on the flanks who can get forward on the counter attack and run at full-backs, and Lingard certainly fills those requirements, perhaps even more so than one of Hodgson’s favourites, Adam Lallana.

For Lingard to be called up, it is vital that he continues the progress that he made under Louis Van Gaal. Jose Mourinho is likely to have less patience for the young talent, who at 23 needs first team football if he is to compete for a place on the international stage, having scored twice in eleven under-21 caps.

Andy Carroll

This suggestion will probably welcome a groan from most fans, but Allardyce knows what Carroll can bring. Having saved him from his Anfield nightmare under Brendan Rodgers to take him to West Ham, the ex-Blackburn boss utilised him whenever possible as an effective target man in claret and blue.

In reality, this may harm his chances more than help them. Allardyce will be keen to show that he is not the footballing dinosaur that some have labelled him as, and Carroll would only compound that view and encourage direct football.

England are far from short of strikers, with Kane, Rashford, Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck and many more in the mix, Carroll may have his work cut out if he is to be called up under Allardyce, but it certainly improves his chances.

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Five surprises in Allardyce’s England squad feat. Manchester United and West Ham stars