Who could break out for England under Lee Carsley: Is it finally Trent Alexander-Arnold's time to shine?

Alexander-Arnold leads the list of players to watch as the Three Lions begin their Nations League campaign

By James Benge Sep 6, 2024 at 1:29 pm ET• 10 min read

Whether this is the beginning of a new era or a brief interregnum remains to be seen, but Saturday's Nations League Group B2 opener away to the Republic of Ireland is a landmark moment for England. For the first time in nearly eight years a manager other than Gareth Southgate will take charge of the Three Lions. Under-21s head coach Lee Carsley will lead England out, so far on an interim basis as the English Football Association mull who will be the right man to take the two-time European runners-up that one step further.

Whether the former Birmingham midfielder is the man for the long term or not remains unclear and could do for some time, perhaps right the way through a Nations League promotion campaign that would conclude in November. Whoever is in charge for those games and the World Cup qualifiers that follow one thing is apparent from Carsley's first squad, this is a time of flux for one of the international game's top contenders. Here are five players with a case to make in the coming weeks and months:

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1. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool

Less than two years out from their trip to North America -- assuming no catastrophes in qualifying -- England's situation is relatively straightforward. The talent is mostly there and there is little reason to believe that it will collectively fall off a cliff before the summer of 2026. What Carsley and his possible successor need to puzzle out is how it all fits together. Nowhere is that challenge more profound than Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It was easy to see why Southgate was inclined to plug in the second best right back in the world, Kyle Walker, and play. The Manchester City man could do whatever role was required of him and if his fitness and form hold over two more gruelling seasons he might still be the best answer whenever the draw throws up a Kylian Mbappe. In having Walker at the top of his depth chart, however, Southgate never quite managed to exploit the talents of the best right back in the world.