England manager Gareth Southgate has one final opportunity to look at his squad in competitive action before the 2022 World Cup, as the Three Lions continue an underwhelming UEFA Nations League campaign in League A Group 3.
Italy and Germany await England on September 23 and 26 respectively as the Euro 2020 runners-up continue their preparations for their trip to Qatar, with Iran, Wales and USA ready to lock horns with Southgate's men in Group B.
Not a single squad selection goes by where Southgate's choices are not scrutinized under a microscope, and a number of internationals are sure to be playing for their places in England's World Cup squad this month.
Here, Sports Mole picks out five players who have a point to prove to Southgate in September's Nations League matches.
Dean Henderson
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Manchester United's Dean Henderson was not afraid to label the Red Devils' treatment of him "criminal" earlier this year, with the 25-year-old forced to accept a peripheral role in the team under David de Gea.
Henderson - the self-proclaimed "caged animal" - was granted his wish for regular game time as he joined Nottingham Forest on loan for the 2022-23 season, one of over 20 new additions in Steve Cooper's squad.
The shot-stopper has unsurprisingly established himself as Forest's number one following the departure of Brice Samba, but with just one clean sheet and 17 goals conceded from seven games so far, Henderson's start to life at the City Ground has been anything but a cakewalk.
Jordan Pickford's injury opened up a spot for Henderson to force his way into the Three Lions squad alongside Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale, both of whom have experienced far stronger starts to the season than the Man United loanee.
With Pickford sure to reinstate himself as England number one following his comeback from injury, Henderson has a strenuous fight on his hands to earn a spot on the plane to Qatar.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
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Still boasting just 17 England caps to his name, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold forms part of a plethora of right-back options for Southgate, who will be no stranger to the 23-year-old's struggles this season.
Often the target of criticism for perceived defensive shortcomings, Alexander-Arnold's attacking prowess has not been on show this season either, as he has registered just one goal and no assists from eight games in all tournaments so far.
Alexander-Arnold can rest easy in the knowledge that his Liverpool spot is not in any real danger, but he is far from guaranteed a place in England's World Cup squad, thanks in no small part to his relative inexperience as a right-wing back.
Kieran Trippier has picked up where he left off last season for Newcastle United, Reece James's qualities as a wing-back are not up for debate, and Kyle Walker's importance to Southgate cannot be understated.
With Kyle Walker-Peters also pushing for inclusion and Ben White sure to come into Southgate's thinking if he keeps performing for Arsenal in the same vein, Alexander-Arnold cannot take a place in the England squad for granted.
Luke Shaw
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Injuries have bedevilled and continue to bedevil Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw, who is one of two Red Devils defenders whose selections for September's fixtures were met with disdain and confusion in equal measure.
It would have been easy to include Harry Maguire in this list, with the centre-back also losing his place in Erik ten Hag's side, but his consistency at international level and previous performances in major tournaments means that he has little to prove to Southgate.
In contrast, Shaw has quickly been demoted to the bench by Tyrell Malacia and was not selected for June's fixtures, although that was down to a serious leg injury which ruled him out of the end of the 2021-22 season.
The 27-year-old's injury record does not make for positive reading, but a recent image of Shaw in training shows the defender boasting an impressive muscular physique as he battles to displace Malacia in the Red Devils' XI.
Ben Chilwell is the only other out-and-out left-back in England's squad for September's games, but Trippier is also capable of deputising on that side, and the next few weeks will be crucial for Shaw if he is to go to the World Cup.
Jarrod Bowen
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Calls for Jarrod Bowen to be included in the England squad did not cease until the West Ham United man made his Three Lions debut against Hungary in June, ultimately appearing in all four of his side's Nations League fixtures that month.
Donning the England jersey was just reward for his 12 goals and 12 assists in Premier League action last term, but Bowen has struggled to hit the same heights early doors this time around.
Despite bagging a pair of goals in the Europa Conference League, Bowen has gone six top-flight games without banking a goal or assist for David Moyes's struggling Hammers, but he kept his place in Southgate's squad either way.
An international novice such as Bowen will naturally have to work harder to prove that he is worthy of a World Cup place, but competition for attacking places is as rife as ever.
Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are both pushing harder than ever for recalls, with the former sure to have been considered for a role this month had it not been for injury, so performances against Italy and Germany are of paramount importance to Bowen.
Jack Grealish
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Living up to his £100m price tag has not been a walk in the park for Manchester City's Jack Grealish, who has struggled to impose his style of play in Pep Guardiola's slick passing machine.
Starting 22 Premier League games last season but only amassing three goals and three assists, the departures of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling opened the door for Grealish to take on a more prominent role in the Man City XI this time around.
An early-season injury did not help the 27-year-old, who only has the one goal to boast from six outings in all tournaments, and the less said about his Champions League showing versus Borussia Dortmund the better.
However, capping off his best performance of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers with a goal could act as a catalyst for improved fortunes for Grealish, who was only a bit-part player at Euro 2020.
With Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Sterling and Mason Mount also looking to impress Southgate, Grealish's domestic numbers must surely improve if he is to earn himself a ticket to Qatar, let alone a regular starting role.
Ben Knapton
