5 Players who could be in contention for England

#5 Mason Holgate

Holgate was fantastic in the win over Southampton

Everton has signed Kurt Zouma on loan from Chelsea, and Yerry Mina on a big deal from Barcelona, but after their win at home to Southampton, Mason Holgate will be the one central defender Marco Silva should be looking a partner for. His partner Michael Keane will likewise be determined to progress and make a return to the international scene, but Holgate is the defender that Southgate should be very much considering to play on the right side of his back three.

Holgate has the ability to play as the right back so he does have talent with the ball at his feet and can play out from the back as well, exactly the way Southgate and England want to play. What Holgate showed when he came on against Wolves and during the home win against Southampton was the ability to organize what was around him. He dropped players in alongside the defenders, covering the outside when Coleman pushed on, and dropped the line deeper and dictating how Everton was going to defend.

He looks to have matured massively and looks like a leader now for his club, his ability in the air for not being the biggest in size is impressive, and that comes from being to see what is around him and reading the game well. The former Barnsley defender will have work to do to stay in the Everton first-eleven this season, but he has the ability in abundance to do so.

Having represented England at both under-20 level and under-21 level, Southgate and his coaching staff will know plenty of what Mason Holgate is about and if he is ready to step up to the senior national team, however after seeing him last season and the early part of this season, it should be the time to give Holgate a chance especially in that right centre back position in the three-man defense.

Could Southgate go back to trying James Tarkowski of Burnley? Right now Holgate would certainly be in the thinking about the upcoming squad to be announced, and playing regularly for his club could move him ahead of ahead of Phil Jones in the reckoning for a call-up. Options defensively aren't massive for Southgate so opting for the Everton defender would give the player the right reward.