World Cup 2018: Top 5 England players to look out for

The FIFA World Cup is just only a few weeks away and the excitement is higher than ever. In this circumstances speculation are also high over which players are getting the ticket to Russia for the showpiece event.

Like most of the teams participating in the World Cup, England also named their 23 man squad on May 16th. The squad consists of many youngsters but the likes of Joe Hart, Adam Lallana are omitted.

English manager Gareth Southgate has claimed that his squad is something to be excited about. Going by his claim let us look at the top 5 players who can make this summer very special for the English fans.

#5 Marcus Rashford

Rashford has already made his mark in International football

At the age of 20, Rushford is one of the most promising youngsters in England. In May 2016, thanks to his goal, England defeated Australia 2-1 and he became the youngest English player ever to score in his very first match.

Rashford also holds the incredible feat of scoring in each of his debuts in almost all major domestic and international competitions for Manchester United. He has also scored in his very first Manchester derby.

The 2017/18 English Premier League was also a decent one for the youngster. He was pretty impressive throughout the season despite being the second choice behind Lukaku. He scored a total of 13 goals, 3 of which came in the European stage.

There is a probability that Southgate will pair him up with Kane and Sterling up front. But even if Jamie Vardy starts, he will surely feature as a substitute. There is a lot of expectation on the young striker and he has all the required firepower to succeed in the ultimate stage.

#4 Dele Alli

Alli scoring against France

Two seasons ago, Alli was in every transfer news and gossip linking him to Real and many other big European clubs. And the reason behind that was an incredible season that the midfield maestro had. Since then, he got overshadowed by the likes of Kane and Son but still, behind the scenes, he is the one responsible for consistent high flying seasons of the Spurs.

Like most other midfielders, Alli loves the pull the strings to behind and try to dominate the middle of the park. But he is also very dangerous in front of goal and has a great shooting range.

The 2017/18 was not exactly a dream season for the midfielder. Many have criticized him for not being at the level he was in last season. But if you look at the stats, he has scored 9 times and made 11 assists in the Premier League this season which is pretty decent for anyone. His creativity and immense technical ability will be tested against the very best in the World Cup. And if he can come up trumps there, the three lions could be on their way to the first title in 52 years.

#3 Jesse Lingard

Lingard has proved his worth in the U21 stage

The World cup squad of England is all about youth and pace. And you simply can not miss Jesse Lingard if you are making a list of top players who are heading to Russia next month.

Lingard is fast. On his day he can outrun the most of the defenders participating in the World Cup. Also, he has some decent trickery up in his sleeves which make him very useful to any manager. And we have also seen enough evidence of his scoring skills thanks to the 13 goals he has scored this season for Manchester United.

The number of appearances was limited this season for Lingard. He made a total of 33 Premier League appearances but played full 90 minutes in only 3 of them. But in this limited scope of opportunity, he has made significant contributions and we can surely hope for the same when England takes on the World in Russia.

#2 Raheem Sterling

Sterling needs to play a vital role this summer

In 2015, Manchester City spent an astonishing £49 million to sign Raheem Sterling from Liverpool. And their investment paid the dividend as Sterling grew rapidly to become an integral part of the English champions.

Sterling plays a free-flowing football. He can play equally well in both wings and can also contribute as a supporting striker. He is really comfortable on the ball and has a decent vision. His magical runs in the opposition half and shooting skills are certainly something the English fans can look forward to in the upcoming World Cup.

Man City and Sterling both had a magical 2017/18 as they collected a record-breaking total of 100 points on their way to Premier League glory. He netted a total of 18 times in the League and 4 times in the Champions League. But what is more significant is that he created a total of 11 goals in this Premier League season and is tied in the 3rd position with teammate David Silva on the top assist list.

#1 Harry Kane

Kane's incredible scoring ability gives England an extra edge

On a football pitch, mentality can be a big factor. And the person who can affect his team's spirit most is the captain of the team. But much to the relief of the English fans, the man who is going to lead England in Russia World Cup is none other than the prolific Harry Kane and he loves to lead by example.

Kane is arguably the most dangerous striker in the world. He has got the pace and the strength to shake off defenders. And his technique is simply out of the world. And staying in the top scorer's list in one of the toughest football league in the world season in season out only proves his immense ability and attacking masterclass.

Harry Kane has been the most consistent player in the Premier League in recent times. This season too he scored 41 goals in just 48 matches. And if he can keep up this form in national colours, England can go all the way in the most coveted tournament in the world of football.