Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and Brentford striker Ivan Toney are set to make their first England starts against Belgium on Tuesday at Wembley (19:45 GMT).
Mainoo, 18, made his debut against Brazil on Saturday as a substitute.
England have limited options in deeper midfield areas and manager Gareth Southgate referenced that this week.
Toney has made one substitute appearance for England and was unused against Brazil.
Mainoo, who has made 20 appearances for Manchester United in a breakthrough season, was initially named in the under-21s squad for this international window but was then added to the senior squad.
He came off the bench in the 75th minute against Brazil and Southgate said after that he “would be happy to put him on the pitch at any moment”.
Toney, who has scored four Premier League goals in 10 games since returning from a suspension for breaking betting rules, made his England debut in a 2-0 win against Ukraine in March 2023.
‘England’s Rice set for ‘pinch me’ moment against Belgium’
Declan Rice says it will be a “pinch-me” moment as he captains England on his 50th appearance in the friendly against Belgium.
The 25-year-old Arsenal midfielder has become a key figure for the Three Lions since making his debut in 2019.
He takes the captain’s armband, with Harry Kane and Kyle Walker out injured.
“On my 50th cap, to walk out at Wembley in front of my family and friends, it is a great honour – I’m a bit speechless,” Rice said.
“It is a pinch-me moment, it will be an honour. I was absolutely lost for words when [Gareth Southgate] said to me I was going to be captain.”
It is almost exactly five years since Rice made his England debut against the Czech Republic, having switched his international allegiance from the Republic of Ireland for whom he appeared on three occasions.
During that time he has helped England reach the final of the European Championship in 2021 and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“I have grown so much as a player and person since I first came into the group,” he added.
“As time has gone on I’ve played more big games, more games at major tournaments. I have enjoyed every moment.”
Toney set to start as absentees mount
England boss Southgate has had to contend with numerous injury problems during the March international break.
Alongside Kane and Walker, Harry Maguire and Sam Johnstone are both out of Tuesday’s match while Bukayo Saka, Luke Shaw and Trent Alexander-Alexander Arnold are also among the absentees.
While that means others will be given their chance to stake their claim for this summer’s Euros in Germany, it is far from an ideal set of circumstances for the England boss.
“It is an incredible number who are unavailable to us,” Southgate said. “I haven’t experienced that before, but it means there are opportunities for other people.
“You can’t worry about what we haven’t got. You’ve got to move forward. There’s a lot of different reasons for those injuries.”
Southgate confirmed Jude Bellingham is fit after cramp forced him off against Brazil on Saturday, while midfielder James Maddison and defender Jarrad Branthwaite will also come into contention.
He added: “We’re probably finding out about more players but that’s really helpful. To see all those players against high-level opposition will help us make better decisions moving forward.”
England to wear nameless shirts in second half
England will play without names on the back of their shirts during the second half, with the match dedicated as an Alzheimer’s Society International as part of the Football Association’s partnership with the charity.
The aim is to draw “attention to how people with dementia lose precious memories, even the names of their favourite football players”.
It is the second time England have done so, after the 2-1 win against Switzerland at Wembley in March 2022.
Source Agencies
