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Gareth Southgate believes the global perception of this England team has improved over the past few years.

England were runners-up at Euro 2020 and will be among the favourites for next summer's tournament in Germany.

"That was one of the reasons I joined the FA 10 years ago. We felt we wanted to do that [enhance England's reputation]," Southgate said.

"We have achieved that throughout the rest of Europe, because when I travel I realise that's how people now see us."

England, who have not won a major trophy since 1966, top Group C in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Southgate led England to fourth place at the 2018 World Cup and to the Euros final at Wembley in 2021, where they were beaten by Italy on penalties.

The side also suffered a quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Qatar last year.

Just seen another Christmas ad on TV. Happy mid-November everyone.

Roger: I think it's a decent side for this game. Maybe I would swap Henderson for Palmer seeing as we will probably be camped on their 18 yard line for most of the game

Jeremy: With the shortage of defenders and a glut of talented midfielders, why are we not playing 3-5-2 and going out to thrash a side we should easily beat?

Jordan Henderson is winning his 81st England cap. He's made 13 appearances for Al-Ettifaq this season who are seventh in the Saudi Pro League.

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John: We are playing Malta (no offence) but Southgate should be pleating the likes of Palmer and Watkins from the start. Same old players and same old system...we win 5-0. And everyone is happy. But let's play with a bit more flair. And attacking - show the world what we can do and we will probably make semi-finals in the summer.

Ken: Henderson...again. Discuss.

Dean: Surely a fixture against Malta is a great opportunity to play the likes of Lewis, Palmer, Watkins, Konsa. Southgate won't win England a trophy!

Alex Howell
BBC Sport

Cole Palmer was selected ahead of Chelsea teammate Raheem Sterling who has been left out of a fifth consecutive international squad.

"He's a great player - he's been brilliant this season for us. I have known him for a while and we have natural chemistry," said Palmer.

"I wasn't even thinking of an England call-up when I first went to Chelsea. I just wanted more games. It was more of an opportunity to prove it."

England

England midfielder Conor Gallagher on Channel Four: "I think I can play in a few positions in midfield. I'm happy to play deeper or more attacking. I like to be involved in the final third and score and create goals. I like this type of role.

"The manager understands what I'm best at and he's told me to do my stuff. I'll just play my normal game.

"You've got a point to prove and you've got to try and impress the manager. Hopefully it can be a good performance today.

"Anyone who has seen Chelsea play can see what he [Cole Palmer] brings to the squad. He'll have no challenges settling in and I'm sure he'll be brilliant."

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Mark: Surely we're playing 352 or 343? TAA and Trips as wing backs. Mad to put a right footed CB at LB. At least TAA and Trips have experience playing on the left.

Shaun: Now we’ve qualified, experimenting at left-back (a problem area for England) is a decent shout by Southgate. I know we all want him experiment with attacking options… but scoring a lot of goals against Malta doesn’t prove anything.

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Bellingham is the first English player to win the Golden Boy award since Raheem Sterling in 2014, when the Chelsea winger was at Liverpool.

Other notable winners include Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

In good company then.

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England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has won the 2023 Golden Boy award today - given to the best under-21 player in Europe's top flights.

The 20-year-old moved from Borussia Dortmund to Real in the summer and has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances.

This award comes after Bellingham was recognised as the best under-21 player in world football at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in October.

"Now I have this prestigious award I want to keep going," he said.

"I want to keep pushing the limits of my potential and hopefully many more trophies to come."

Trent Alexander Arnold has been given the number 10 shirt and talked up his midfield aspirations this week.

Maybe we've been hoodwinked and he's playing left-back Matt.

Matt: Great to see Tomori getting a chance tonight but at left back?? Surely we should be able to find an actual full back to play there?

BBC Radio 5 Live

Our commentary is up and running on 5 live by the way - press play at the top of the page.

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Get in the mood for tonight's match with our England captains quiz.

From Cuthbert Ottaway in the 1870s to current incumbent Harry Kane, the England men's national team have had 152 official captains in their 151-year history.

Well, we want to test your captaincy knowledge.

So, can you name the players that have won the most caps for England as the team's captain?

Here's the link. Good luck!

Jools: Why oh why is TAA in midfield?

Alex Howell
BBC Sport

Cole Palmer is on the bench tonight. He says his £42.5m summer transfer to Chelsea from Manchester City is "paying off" as he eyes his senior England debut.

The 21-year-old forward has scored four goals and registered four assists in 14 appearances since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

He was called up to the England squad on Monday after injuries to James Maddison, Callum Wilson and Lewis Dunk.

Palmer said he left Treble winners City in search of first-team football.

"It happened fast, to be fair. I spoke to someone at Chelsea and I was speaking to my dad but I really didn't know what to do," Palmer said.

"I was just thinking about it for a couple of days, near enough every minute of the day. I just wanted regular game time."

The floor is yours. What do you make of England's starting XI? How about their chances at this summer's Euros?

I'm all ears. Get in touch using the usual channels.

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Gareth Southgate names a strong and experienced England side. Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane and Phil Foden form a three-pronged attack, with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold again operating in midfield.

On the bench, Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa, Manchester City's Rico Lewis and Chelsea's Cole Palmer will all be hoping to make their senior debuts.

England XI: Pickford, Trippier, Maguire, Guehi, Tomori, Gallagher, Henderson, Alexander-Arnold, Foden, Rashford, Kane.

Subs: Johnstone, Ramsdale, Walker, Konsa, Lewis, Phillips, Rice, Palmer, Saka, Grealish, Watkins, Bowen.

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Malta have failed to win in 16 European Championship qualifiers. On the bench for them is Jodi Jones, who plays in League Two for Notts County.

Malta XI: Bonello, J Borg, Pepe, S Borg, Camenzuli, Teuma, Guillaumier, Yankam, J Mbong, Reid, P Mbong.

Subs: Grech, Al-Tumi, Shaw, Muscat, Attard, Apap, Pisani, Overand, Kristensen, Jones, Nwoko.

England team news in 3...2...1...

John Murray
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's a sell-out. There will be over 80,000 people inside Wembley tonight. It's remarkable really how they keep doing this. Both matches last month (were sold out).

Tonight will be the night that Wembley says goodbye to Sir Bobby Charlton after his recent death. The funeral was at the start of the week and Gareth Southgate was there with Steve Holland and from where I am sitting they have put out cards so that as the teams come out the letters will spell out the words 'Sir Bobby'.

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