The England squad will be named ahead of international friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, with several Championship-experienced players included.

There are current Championship players who will go on to play for England, as well as several who have already played for England at the U-21 and lower levels in the youth system at St. George’s Park.

The league has more former internationals than you might think, with Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, Harry Winks, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Aaron Cresswell, Conor Coady, Jay Rodriguez, Alex McCarthy, Nathaniel Chalobah, Danny Ings, and Ashley Young all earning at least one cap for England.

Despite the fact that Phillips is only 30 years old and won England Player of the Year in 2021, none of those players are likely to play for England again.

Here, we have some fun by looking at an XI of the top English players in each position in the Championship.

A Championship XI consisting of all English players

Thomas Tuchel may select some of these for the senior team in the near future, but we believe this is the greatest current roster if it was made up entirely of Championship players.

GK: Carl Rushworth (Coventry City)

Carl Rushworth has been one of the Championship’s most consistent young goalkeepers for some time, combining quick reflexes with increasing presence and authority in his box. His shot-stopping ability is impressive for Coventry City, but his poise in possession makes him suitable for modern systems. Given James Trafford’s progress, he is likely to be in contention for England in the near future.

RB: Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough).

Callum Brittain is an energetic and consistent right-back who thrives in both the defensive and attacking phases for Middlesbrough. He has been underappreciated for some time, dating back to his Blackburn Rovers days. His desire to overlap and deliver quality into the box adds a significant dimension, and his dogged work ethic means he remains trustworthy throughout the course of a lengthy campaign.

Captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis of Southampton.

Harwood-Bellis is a natural leader who mixes defensive knowledge with on-ball poise. He has a cap for his country and a goal in the same match. Given his talent, they are unlikely to be his last. The Southampton ace is at ease stepping out of the back, setting the tone for his team and organising those around him. His experience and maturity make him an appropriate captain for this XI.

CB: Charlie Hughes (Hull City).

The centre-back position is undoubtedly the most competitive, but Charlie Hughes is a modern centre-back who sees the game well and distributes efficiently from deep — and he is always improving. He remains calm under pressure and has rapidly established himself as a reliable presence at this level. He is quite capable of dealing with physical forwards at such a young age, making him an ideal partner for THB.

LB: Leif Davis (Ipswich Town).

Leif Davis has emerged as one of the Championship’s most prolific full-backs, thanks to standout performances in two of the last three seasons, particularly moving forward. His delivery from wide areas is a constant threat for Ipswich Town, and he plays with an attacking mindset that frequently pins opponents back. Despite the fact that there are several outstanding English left-backs in the Championship, he is ideal for this team.

CM: Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).

Next up is a guy who is highly likely to play for England one day, with Hayden Hackney now regarded as the division’s outstanding talent. He continues to impress with his brains and talent during the build-up period. He is good at passing the ball, provides balance in midfield, and sets the tempo. His consistency and maturity make him extremely dependable for Middlesbrough.

DM: Ben Sheaf (Wrexham)

If Hackney is the metronome, this side’s heartbeat will require some steel to accompany him. Ben Sheaf offers leadership, control, and composure to midfield, serving as a dependable presence in possession. However, it is his bite and spatial awareness that allow others to move ahead. There are other more technical options on the bench, but he would be an important part of any well-structured team.

RW: Femi Azeez (Millwall).

Femi Azeez, like a Championship version of Bukayo Saka, brings directness and unpredictability to a wide range of situations. His speed and willingness to challenge defenders make him a consistent outlet, and his end product is progressively improving, transforming him into a more well-rounded attacking danger. He’s been one of the other standouts in the second tier this season.

AM: Jack Rudoni, Coventry City

At his best, Jack Rudoni is a clever attacking midfielder who thrives between the lines. His mobility and ingenuity allow him to efficiently connect play and attack the box to score goals, and his eye for goal from distance adds another dimension to his game. He can influence games in tight places and would be a match-winner in this team, as he frequently is for Coventry.

LW: Jaden Philogene (Ipswich Town).

Jaden Philogene is one of the most promising offensive prospects at this level. He is one of the division’s most agile, skilled, and fearless wingers. He stretches defences and creates opportunities from nothing with both feet. On his best days, his flair makes him a genuine match-winner, but he can also help others by carrying the ball upfield and pulling defenders in.

CF: Patrick Bamford (Sheffield United).

Patrick Bamford, the team’s senior statesman, has both enormous experience and the insight required to weave together the frontline. His movement away from the ball remains an important aspect of the 32-year-old’s game, allowing him to provide room for others as well as himself. When fit and firing, he is a consistent goal threat at Championship level, having scored 10 in 21 games for Sheffield United this season.

An alternative England XI for the Championship

There were so many options to pick from, and some close calls, that an alternate XI highlights the depth of English quality in the Championship right now. Michael Cooper is usually a reliable and commanding goalkeeper, but Rushworth has outperformed him this season.

In front of him might be Femi Seriki, Jake Cooper, Callum Doyle, and Alfie Doughty. On paper, it appears to be fairly balanced in terms of skill sets and profiles, combining physicality with attacking output from a variety of angles.

Matt Grimes and Kalvin Phillips provide a good mix of control and top-level experience as backups to the starting duo in midfield, while Joe Gelhardt, Callum O’Hare, and Jack Clarke provide creativity and attacking thrust behind striker Jovon Makama, whose raw potential could make him a more exciting inclusion than Bamford.

Beyond that XI, there are plenty of players who were unfortunate enough to miss out. Japhet Tanganga and Jacob Greaves could easily boost the defence, while Sydie Peck and Max Bird would add midfield depth and possession quality.

In offense, Carlton Morris, Morgan Whittaker, and Tom Fellows all have a good case for inclusion in this squad. Many of those names would easily fit into a larger 26-man squad, demonstrating how competitive a Championship selection would be.