Monday 1 February 2016 10:58, UK
We look at England's best starting line-up according to Sky Sports Fantasy Football's revised valuations.
Roy Hodgson has led the Three Lions to six successive victories in the 2016 European Championships qualifying campaign, but is he selecting the best XI?
Here’s what the Sky Sports Fantasy Football team think.
Joe Hart
Value: £5.8m, points last season: 120
Hart was almost ever-present in goal for England and Manchester City last season League, playing every game for his country and 36 times in the Premier League, keeping 14 clean sheets in the process. He was the highest scoring English goalkeeper with 120 points, although at £0.6m cheaper, Fraser Forster was only one point shy of Hart’s total.
Nathaniel Clyne
Value: £6.6m, points last season: 122
Roy Hodgson opted for Phil Jones at right-back in England’s most recent international in June. However, it was Liverpool’s summer signing from Southampton, Clyne, who top scored of the English players in that position last season, seeing him priced £0.2m higher than the Manchester United defender.
John Terry
Value: £7.9m, points last season: 163
John Terry announced his international retirement in September 2013 but last season’s tally of 163 fantasy football points suggests that Roy Hodgson should do everything possible to coax Terry back into the England team. The Chelsea captain scored five times, more than any other Premier League defender, as he played every minute of Chelsea’s campaign, committing only 13 fouls and collecting just two yellow cards.
Gary Cahill
Value: £7.7m, points last season: 114
Cahill couldn’t get close to Terry in terms of fantasy football points last season, while the following English central-defenders also managed to outscore him; Joleon Lescott (114), Phil Jagielka (116). All of the aforementioned are at least £1million cheaper, perhaps due to the lack of Terry by their side.
Leighton Baines
Value: £7.6m, points last season: 109
The Everton defender hasn’t been fit and available to select for an England game since March, since then Hodgson has trialled Ryan Bertrand and Kieran Gibbs. He remains the most expensive English left-back due to his prowess in dead-ball situations, although Roberto Martinez’s tinkering with his penalty taker is worth considering.
Raheem Sterling
Value: £8.5m, points last season: 158
Rated the most valuable young player in Europe by a recent Soccerex report, the 20-year-old is expected to build on his tally of £8.5m. There are only six midfielders who are more expensive for the coming season and with, seven goals and seven assists last term, the young winger is held in very high regard.
Jordan Henderson
Value: £7.6m, points last season: 167
The highest points scorer of all English midfielders last season, Henderson is showing signs of filling Gerrard’s boots for club and country. The ex-Sunderland maestro contributed nine assists and chipped in with a career-best six goals last season, justifying a significant hike in his valuation.
Jack Wilshere
Value: £7.5m, points last season: 37
Wilshere has flattered to deceive in recent years, scoring just six goals in his last four campaigns, although a strong end to the season, including a brace for England, sees the 23-year-old sneak into the fantasy football England XI.
Theo Walcott
Value: £8m, points last season: 51
Injury problems have hugely hindered Walcott’s point-scoring ability over the last two seasons, although he averaged a goal every 88 minutes in 14 Premier League appearances last term. Roy Hodgson seems to agree with the winger’s high valuation, given he has featured in four of England’s last five games.
Wayne Rooney
Value: £9.5m, points last season: 149
Rooney is still the main man for club and county, starting all of England’s last 10 fixtures since the World Cup in Brazil, scoring eight goals in the process. Manchester United look set to be short of attacking alternatives next season, meaning the 29-year-old should be used in a more advanced role – good news for prospective fantasy football bosses.
Daniel Sturridge
Value: £9.5m, points last season: 50
Since the emergence of Harry Kane, Roy Hodgson has yet to be faced with a selection headache of choosing Daniel Sturridge or the young Tottenham star. Sky Sports Fantasy Football suggest that the England manager should side with Sturridge, who is valued £0.3m higher, despite enduring an injury-ravaged 2014/15 while Kane was one of just four players to break the elusive 200-point barrier.
