The form based England XI Gareth Southgate should name as his favourites falter

England round off their World Cup qualifying campaign over the coming week and are all but assured of a place at the tournament in Qatar next year. They host Albania on Friday night, with a win enough to cement top spot ahead of a trip to bottom side San Marino.

As such Gareth Southgate is expected to name what he considers to be his strongest side at Wembley before offering some of those vying to break into his favoured XI a chance to impress next Monday.

But, with so many of the first names on a usual Southgate teamsheet desperately out of form, not least the likes of Harry Maguire, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, what side would take the field if based purely on performances for their clubs this season?

We've compiled a strongest XI based on ratings in all competitions this season of those named in the latest England squad, and it's safe to say it's a side more likely to take the field against San Marino than the one likely to be named this Friday...

Goalkeeper

While Jordan Pickford will undoubtedly get the nod against Albania, there will almost certainly be a chance for Sam Johnstone or Aaron Ramsdale to start next week. The former has emerged as understudy to the Everton stopper in recent times but performances this season certainly suggest that it's Ramsdale, with an impressive 7.07 rating, that deserves an international debut.

Much maligned ahead of a big money move to Arsenal in the summer, the 23-year old is yet to taste defeat for the Gunners and has played a pivotal role in the upturn in form and fortunes under Mikel Arteta. All in all Ramsdale has kept six clean sheets and shipped just four goals in nine appearances, while boasting the best save success rate in the Premier League (84.4 per cent).

Defence

The right-back spot is the most hotly contested in the England ranks, with both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James in inspired form for their clubs this season. That said, Kyle Walker will still likely keep his place for Albania, so the two may be scrapping for a solitary start. It's Alexander-Arnold that boasts the stronger rating across all competitions this season (7.60), despite James having had a direct hand in more league goals than any other player in the squad (7).

The left-back spot is essentially a given following Luke Shaw's withdrawal, though in truth Ben Chilwell (7.02) comfortably beats the United man to the side, while the centre-back positions are, well, a problem. As mentioned, Maguire is having a torrid time of late and boasts the lowest rating in the squad, with Conor Coady not far ahead. As such the two spots are filled by John Stones (6.84) - despite starting just four times for City this season - and Tyrone Mings. The latter was unceremoniously dropped by Villa recently due to a poor run of form, which goes to show just how far Maguire's performance levels have fallen to be beaten to the side.

Midfield

A shoo in in the middle of the park were it not for a late withdrawal through illness, Declan Rice is enjoying the best season of his career to date for both club and country and on current form would walk into most teams in the world, with a rating of 7.50. His usual midfield partner Kalvin Phillips has endured an injury hit and underwhelming campaign by comparison, while Jude Bellingham has shone both in Europe and the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, with a direct hand in eight goals across the two enough to earn an excellent 7.39 rating.

It's Jordan Henderson that gets the nod over Phillips having enjoyed a productive campaign so far and could well come into the side given the Leeds star's fitness issues this season. A late call up following the withdrawals of James Ward-Prowse and Marcus Rashford, Emile Smith Rowe's purple patch in front of goal has been deservingly rewarded with a first senior call up and he completes our midfield. Tasked with adding goals to his game this season, the 21-year old has done just that with five in his last eight appearances and will surely make his bow during this break.

Attack

This is where things get pretty sticky for Southgate, with star turns Kane and Sterling out of sorts and out of favour respectively. With Jadon Sancho dropped owing to a lack of game time at United, the options on the right are limited to an out of position Phil Foden (7.19) and Bukayo Saka, with the former out on top, with five goals and four assists for City thus far.

Clubmate Jack Grealish - though a doubt through illness - takes the subsequent spot on the left ahead of fellow Citizen Sterling despite not yet fully finding his feet at the Etihad, though his underlying numbers are still impressive. Indeed, the £100m man ranks third in the league for key passes per game, and is perhaps unfortunate to have just the three assists to his name for his new club.

Leading the line, unsurprisingly Harry Kane would not make the cut on form this season, despite the continued absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. With the likes of Ollie Watkins and Mason Greenwood not selected, and Patrick Bamford also sidelined, the spot goes to Tammy Abraham, who has been patchy at best himself of late but with three goals and two assists, outscores Kane's respective league tallies of just one apeice.