Report: Shaw preferred to Young, Bertrand in England squad

After nicking Ashley Young's left-back berth at Manchester United, Luke Shaw is now poised to pinch his England spot.

Gareth Southgate will recall the 23-year-old into his squad Thursday, according to The Telegraph's Matt Law. Shaw hasn't appeared for his country since he was introduced from the bench in a friendly defeat to Germany in March 2017.

Southampton's Ryan Bertrand, 29, and Young, 33, have apparently been snubbed in favor of Shaw, allowing the latter to eye a start in the UEFA Nations League skirmish with Spain on Sept. 8 and a friendly against Switzerland three days later. Danny Rose is expected to be his main competition for a left wing-back role.

Law understands Joe Gomez will be drafted in to replace Gary Cahill, who recently stepped down from international duty, while Burnley's James Tarkowski and West Ham United's Declan Rice are among the front-runners should Southgate elect to replace the injured Phil Jones with another defender.

If Eric Dier is chosen as cover for the backline, that would free up space for a midfielder. This may herald a new era for England, as an uncapped quartet of Will Hughes, Phil Foden, James Maddison, Nathaniel Chalobah are believed to be jostling for position.

The tougher decision could lie in replacing forward Jamie Vardy, another player to retire from the national team fold. Callum Wilson and Danny Ings, both of whom are 26, are being considered, but, in a move that would satisfy Vardy's want for a young contingent to emerge, Borussia Dortmund's 18-year-old winger Jadon Sancho could instead be a surprise pick.