Gareth Southgate has picked his England Squad at the start of the week.  A week that will see FIFA World Cup qualifier matches running from Thursday to Sunday. In fact they don’t stop until Tuesday.

Continuity will be king with Southgate’s 4 match tenure.  He will be looking for some convincing victories if the FA are going to make him full time manager.  Marcus Rashford is more likely to get a starting place due to a dose of goals her produced for Manchester United, and because Harry Kane is injured.  Jose Mourinho currently has Rashford as a first choice pick increasing his chances of starting against Malta or Slovenia.

Southgate has brought Jesse Lingard up from the U21s.  Surprising some that he has introduced more U21 players.

Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley remain out of the squad after not fighting for their place with lack lustre performances for their clubs.

A surprise pick has been bringing Glen Johnson back into the squad after he has only just returned to first team football for Stoke.  Stoke have drawn two and lost two in the last four matches.

Who is injured?  Harry Kane, Adam Lallana, Danny Drinkwater, as well as other possible picks including Jack Butland and Nathaniel Clyne.

Wales play twice this week.  On Thursday against Austria away, and, Sunday against Georgia at home.  Chris Coleman will be hoping Wales continue the dazzling form that was show cased at the European tournament.

Who plays and when in the European region qualifiers?

Thursday 6th October 2016

Group D

Austria v Wales 19.45

Moldova v Serbia 19.45

Republic of Ireland v Georgia 19.45

Group G

Italy v Spain 1945

Liechtenstein v Albania 19.45

Macedonia v Israel 19.45

Group I

Iceland v Finland 19.45

Kosovo v Croatia 19.45

Turkey v Ukraine 19.45

Friday 7th October 2016

Group A 

France v Bulgaria 19.45

Luxembourg v Sweden 19.45

Netherlands v Belarus 19.45

Group B

Hungary v Switzerland 19.45

Latvia v Faroe Islands 19.45

Portugal v Andorra 19.45

Group H

Belgium v Bos-Herze 19.45

Estonia v Gibraltar 19.45

Greece v Cyprus 19.45

Saturday 8th October 2016

Group C

Azerbaijen v Norway 17.00

Germany v Czech Republic 19.45

Northern Ireland v San Marino 19.45

Group E

Armenia v Romania 17.00

Montenegro v Kazakhstan 17.00

Poland v Denmark 19.45

Group F

England v Malta 17.00

Scotland v Lithuania 19.45

Slovenia v Slovakia 19.45

Sunday 9th October

Group D

Wales v Georgia 17.00

Moldova v Republic of Ireland 19.45

Serbia v Austria 19.45

Group G

Israel v Liechtenstein 17.00

Albania v Spain 19.45

Macedonia v Italy 19.45

Group I

Finland v Croatia 17.00

Ukraine v Kosovo 17.00

Iceland v Turkey 19.45

Another match of interest is Russia v Costa Rica in an international friendly on Sunday at 13.oo.