England: Hodgson faces selection dilemas in Warsaw

Leighton Baines will be very unlucky to miss out against Poland

Roy Hodgson has some tough calls to make on his starting XI for England's World Cup qualifier away to Poland...

Ok, it was only San Marino, but the players who came in against the minnows had to take whatever chance they could get to impress the manager. Some more than others will have staked a genuine claim for a starting berth and Hodgson will now face some tricky decisions on those he omits and those to keep...

Left Back
All the talk has focused on whether or not Ashley Cole should gain his 99th cap after his twitter outburst last week. However, Leighton Baines has proved he is an understudy of burgeoning quality and was always trying to create on Friday. If Cole was anything other than the very best in the business, Baines would own this spot.

Right Back
Kyle Walker is another whose future claims on his position are unquestionable though right now Glen Johnson is just ahead in the pecking order. Walker was outshone by Baines against San Marino.

Centre Back
Joleon Lescott should be brought back to play alongside his former Everton team-mate Phil Jagielka in Warsaw as this is a right-foot, left-foot combination with proven pedigree both for club and country. The pair have kept clean sheets against Norway and Spain and their understanding from their Goodison days is a true asset to England.
Whichever combination Hodgson chooses in Warsaw, they are priced at 2.466/4 to keep the Polish attack out.

Centre Midfield
Steven Gerrard will come back in following his suspension but it's whether or not the manager drops Michael Carrick or Tom Cleverley, who was probably the pick of the midfield against San Marino, and according to Opta broke a completed passes record for his country.

Left Midfield
Always a position up for grabs it seems but in grabbing his first goal for England, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain probably did enough to keep his spot there. The Arsenal teenager is available at 6.611/2 to add to his maiden strike.

Right Midfield
The injury to Theo Walcott makes this a two-horse race between James Milner and Aaron Lennon and on form it should go to the Tottenham man. Milner is a reliable player but does not offer any dynamism going forward and is not a regular for Man City this season.

Rooney's Strike Partner
Assuming Hodgson rested Jermain Defoe against San Marino, it seems likely he will be recalled for this game. Danny Welbeck will probably make way for Defoe - priced at 8.615/2 to open the scoring - though it is slightly harsh after the Man United man's brace.

Christian Crowther's XI (4-4-2):
Joe Hart; Ashley Cole, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Steven Gerrard, Tom Cleverley, Aaron Lennon; Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe