England World Cup squad: Kyle Walker set to miss out – but it's better news for Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Hodgson will name his England squad on Monday afternoon
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Your support makes all the difference.Kyle Walker’s hopes of going to the World Cup finals look over with the Tottenham Hotspur right-back still struggling with a pelvic injury that has ruled him out of the latter stages of the season.
Walker, 23, has not played for Spurs since he came off during the first half of the Europa League tie against Benfica on 13 March and was not even on the bench for Spurs’ final day victory over Aston Villa at home. There are fewer options left open to Roy Hodgson, who names his squad on Monday, at right-back, with the possibility he may take just seven defenders rather than the standard eight and use Phil Jones and Chris Smalling as cover for Glen Johnson.
The England manager will base himself at Wembley stadium on Monday morning with medical and support staff to make the final decision on his 23 squad players, plus seven on stand-by, the latter of which will also take part in the build-up until the team’s departure to Miami at the end of the month. He is likely to call those who have narrowly missed out on the squad, rather than all of his players who have made the cut, before the official announcement at sponsors Vauxhall’s head office in Luton.
Arsene Wenger said that Hodgson’s Arsenal contingent Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be fit for selection. Wilshere played his first senior football as a second half substitute in Arsenal’s win over Norwich City since limping off in the England friendly against Denmark on 5 March. Oxlade-Chamberlain will be back in training on Wednesday, ahead of the FA Cup final, Wenger said, with the midfielder not having played since 20 April.
On Wilshere, Wenger said: "The World Cup is in one month so he has plenty of time. It just shows you he has no problem for him to be available."
Wenger said that Oxlade-Chamberlain had not been "over-played" this season and was ready for the summer. "He needs a minimum rest but I am not too worried about that. The only worry would be if the player is not medically fit. I trust the England team, they have the first camp in Portugal. They will know after that."
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