When the World Cup squad is named on Thursday, James Maddison, Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire will be in the spotlight.
Maddison's selection is still very much up in the air.
There are a number of players who are trying to get fit in order to be considered. At the center of an anxious wait is KalvinPhillips, who is in the middle of intensive rehabilitation programmes.
This will be the first World Cup where nations are allowed to pick 26 players, and that gives the England boss a little more wiggle room.
It means that players who aren't fully fit as well as those who can be used as impact subs can be considered by the coach. He did work with a large group of people for last summer's Euros.
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If there are last-minute injuries, the list of names on Thursday could be changed.
The ultimate deadline for England to make squad changes is November 20.
With a number of important England players recovering from injury, a key question is how many of them can be included.
I have been told that taking injured players to a major tournament is fraught with problems and can be disruptive, like when Wayne Rooney broke his foot in 2006 and David Beckham broke his ankle.
The lack of warm-up games and little training time before the World Cup makes it difficult for players who are nursing injuries.
It's doubtful that the England boss can include such a large number of fit players in this squad. Three or four may not be able to manage their workload and build fitness, but one or two may.
It is thought that the tournament will be too early for James. Before his knee injury, he was England's first choice right-back. I'm told that Walker is more than a month ahead of schedule in his recovery from groin surgery, so there's no way that he's going to be fit in time for the World Cup.
Even if Walker is named in the squad, he won't have a lot of playing time in the first games.
The same thing happened toPhillips when he was named England's Player of the Year in September. He has played less than 20 minutes of football this season and is being reintegrated into the team. It's touch and go forPhillips. He is far from being match fit even if he is fit.
There is a big selection debate surrounding Maddison. He has 30 goal involvements, three more than any other English player.
His form is making him impossible to ignore, and the enlarged squad means he could yet be a wild card selection.
Gary Lineker says it would be a travesty if the player wasn't included.
Maddison's international involvement has always been hampered by the number and quality of England's attacking options.
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He will have a number of attacking options. It was around six or seven for the Euros. Is there room for Maddison too, with Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish, and Jack Grealish certain to be in the squad?
The England boss might want seven forwards. No, if he wants to use the extra body to cover a weak defence.
If England need a goal in the second half of a knockout game, will Maddison be the one to lead the way?
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The England boss will be asking a lot of difficult questions.
For reasons few can explain, Maddison's face doesn't seem to fit with the ethos of the squad. For a player of his quality one England cap is criminal.
Jadon has been affected by the English attacking talent. He has not played for Manchester United since mid- October because of illness.
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Who is going to be Harry Kane's backup? That is one of the problems facing the man.
As Manchester United's number nine, Rashford has been playing well. A minor injury wouldn't have stopped him from being in the squad.
I think he's going to be in the World Cup squad.
He is a strong candidate because of the doubts over England's back-up strikers and his ability to play wide.
Tammy Abraham was the first sub off the rank when Kane needed a rest. Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a terrible injury.
The fact that Abraham didn't play a minute of football in the last international break raises questions over whether he can be relied on. Abraham warmed the bench as England were behind and chasing the game against Italy and Germany.
The 25-year-old has struggled so far this season, with only three goals to his name, despite flourishing last year.
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There is a chance for others, including Ivan Toney and Callum Wilson, to compete for a spot in the squad.
It is not ideal from the perspective of the man. Toney didn't make his international debut when he was called up for the first time in September, so throwing him straight into a World Cup wouldn't be a good idea.
He has six goals in his last eight games.
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Wilson has three goals in as many appearances for the club. Wilson hasn't played for England for more than three years, so I wouldn't be surprised if he got the nod.
The smart money is on the three of them. With defensive frailties and injuries in other positions, I think he'll want more cover in those areas.
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The fitness of those who get in and those who don't will be the most important factors.
There was a debate about whether Trent Alexander-Arnold should be on the plane.
Alexander-Arnold is almost certain to be included - even though his brilliance on the ball and his vulnerability defensively against Spurs on Super Sunday led Gary Neville to say that he poses a "real dilemma" for England.
Trippier has to start at either right-back or left-back according to Shearer. Another shoo-in isLuke Shaw. Right and left-backs are probably England's firstchoice right and left now.
It's a big blow for the player and the country. Likewise for the other person.
There is still room for one more full-back in the squad even if Walker can't prove his fitness. TheVersatility of being able to play centre back and playing as well as he is for table-toppingArsenal makes Ben White the most likely to be called up.
Most of the players will be disappointed if they don't see their names on the website on Thursday. The inclusion of Dan Burn would be a big call.
Harry Maguire will be included in the squad even though he has not been involved with Manchester United. His selection will be controversial.
One of the most talked about topics in the build-up to England's first game is whether he should play. I expect Southgate to take the opposite view of the many critics who think that Maguire shouldn't be in the England 26.
The England boss should not worry about Eric Dier's howler because he should stay in his place.
It's down to how many central defenders he wants. He had a fully-fit Kyle Walker who was used in a back three often.
Will there be a fifth center-back? Is White able to provide enough centre-back cover?
In the Nations League matches in September, Southgate and Steve Holland didn't give either of the two players a single minute of playing time.
Both of them could miss out if Thursday's announcement is anything to go by.
England have been struggling for numbers for a long time in this area.
Even though he is used in a variety of positions, Mason Mount was included in the squad for the Euros, even though he was only used in the middle.
The only definites are Mount, Rice, Henderson, and Bellingham.
Even though James Ward-Prowse didn't make the final cut for the Euros, he may still be needed this time.
If England's coaches decide they simply need extra bodies in the middle of the field, then it's possible that they'll miss out on a player.
Jordan Pickford will be England's first choice keeper. It's two from three with Dean Henderson and Nick Pope in the picture.
Pope fluffed his chance in Pickford's absence and Henderson is most likely to miss out. Pope's struggles with distribution and the howler that led to Germany's tying the game at Wembley will be noticed by England's coaches.
He will make the squad with Ramsdale.
Rob Dorsett will answer your questions on the confirmed England squad on Thursday afternoon on Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Digital, as well as live on Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Digital.
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