Coady and Phillips set for England debuts in experimental side vs Denmark

Conor Coady is set to win his first full England cap as Gareth Southgate prepares to experiment with a back three in Denmark.

Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips are also set to start in a 3-4-3 with Southgate ready to tinker although he is expected to stick with the front three of Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and Jadon Sancho.

Phillips, 24, said he was “blown away” by the England call-up and this is a huge opportunity to start a competitive game in the Nations League in a formation which Southgate believes may be the best system for next summer’s European Championships.

It will also be a dream come true for Wolves captain Coady who has waited patiently for his England chance which now arrives as part of a back three alongside Joe Gomez and Eric Dier.

Phillips has also been given his first call up to the squad with him expected to play with Declan Rice as Southgate rings the changes to face Denmark.

Trent Alexander-Arnold also comes in at right wing back in England’s line-up which Southgate confirmed they have worked on in training.

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England boss Southgate confirmed that he is ready to use a back three in Copenhagen and the system served him well during the 2018 World Cup.

Southgate said: “We’re thinking about different things, tried things in training across the week with different possibilities across the team and whether that’s the right thing for the game, to win tomorrow night, we’ve got to think that through.

“But it’s no secret because everything in this camp seems to have got out and we have tried a three at the back earlier in the week.”

Mason Greenwood was sent home in disgrace after breaking protocols and that may have blown a chance of him making his first senior start, having been a substitute in Iceland.

England probable XI: Pickford; Gomez, Coady, Dier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Phillips, Trippier; Sancho, Sterling, Kane.

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