Tottenham players again dominate England roster

By Ryan Wrenn | May 25, 2017

NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 27: Harry Kane of England during the UEFA EURO 2016 Round of 16 match between England and Iceland at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 27, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /

Gareth Southgate announced his latest England squad on Thursday, and once again Tottenham players are set to play an outsized part.

Like last summer’s squad that Roy Hodgson took to the Euros, five Tottenham players will travel with England: Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier.

This summer, England will take on Scotland in a World Cup qualifier on June 10th before traveling to France for a friendly on the 13th.

After missing out in March’s international break, Kane’s comeback will be more than welcome by the Three Lions. Seven goals in Tottenham’s last two matches of the Premier League season more or less guarantees that he will lead the line from the start of both matches.

Behind — or perhaps alongside — him in the attack will be Dele Alli, who himself is coming off a sophomore season that started slow but ended as a roaring success. The 20-year-old’s position in the squad is already well established, but he will faced competition from Liverpool’s Adam Lallana and Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard.

More from World Cup

One of the more curious questions coming into this pair of matches is exactly where Eric Dier will play. England’s largely used him the way Spurs did in 2015/16 — in defensive midfield. This past season, however, Dier’s proven more effective as a centre-back. With United’s Phil Jones and Chris Smalling both just returning from injury and Manchester City’s John Stones’ coming off an uneven season, Dier could find himself fielding in defense for England as well.

By the time England actually takes to the pitch in Scotland, Walker might not technically be a Tottenham player. Rumors are heating up that he will make the move to City once the transfer window opens in July. Regardless, he should be Southgate’s first choice right-back.

His usual companion on the opposite flank, Danny Rose, is unavailable for this match as he continues to recover from a knee knock picked up in January. In his place, West Ham’s Adam Cresswell seems set to start.

Arguably the most notable inclusion for Tottenham is Kieran Trippier. This is the 26-year-old’s first England call up, and it’s coming after two months of solid starts with the club. Should Walker leave, he’s the most likely man to step up into the Spurs’ starting right-back role.

Next: Tottenham player review: Kieran Trippier

Trippier’s inclusion here with Southgate’s team means that Tottenham’s grip on the heart of this team isn’t set to weaken anytime soon. These five represent the largest contribution of any club in the Premier League, and with young players like Harry Winks coming up through the ranks that might just be the start.