Manchester has provided six out of the 23 players in England manager Roy Hodgson’s provisional squad for the World Cup in Brazil this summer.
Despite a poor season, Manchester United have provided four players to Roy Hodgson’s England squad.
Phil Jones is included despite suffering a shoulder injury in United’s game against Hull City. Liverpool’s Jon Flanagan and Everton’s John Stones has been added to the standby list in case the versatile United defender fails to recover from injury. Chris Smalling is also included in a 7 man defensive lineup in which Southampton’s Luke Shaw has been named in place of Chelsea’s Ashley Cole. Shaw has recently been linked with a move to Old Trafford after a £27m bid was reportedly placed.
Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck are selected in two of the four forward berths. Both have suffered injuries this season with Rooney missing the last few games of the season with a groin injury but will hope to be fully match fit.
Michael Carrick, 32, and Tom Cleverley appear to have paid the price for United’s poor form and are only included on the standby list.
Manchester City have provided just two players to the England squad.
Joe Hart is sure to start as England’s number one and survived a poor run of form late last year when he was dropped for around two months in favour of backup ‘keeper Costel Pantilimon. He came back stronger and helped City clinch their second title in three seasons last Sunday.
James Milner hasn’t played as often as he would have liked this season but will provide a strong option down England’s right flank or as a central midfielder.
England are scheduled to play their last friendly at Wembley before the World Cup against Peru on May 30.
The England squad must be finalised by June 2.
England will then play out to Miami to play friendlies against Ecuador on June 4 and Honduras on June 7 to acclimatise to the heat expected in Brazil.
Finally, England will begin their World Cup campaign on June 14 against Italy in Manaus.
Preliminary England Squad for World Cup 2014 in Brazil
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City).
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).
On Standby: John Ruddy (Norwich City), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC).