England’s Nations League forwards: how they earned their place

The Nations League campaign is now underway and with the World Cup approaching, we have broken down the domestic seasons of t England’s forwards who are currently in the squad.

These players are Tammy Abraham, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling, and we’ve broken down their league performance stats. 

This article is a useful guide for knowing who is in the best form heading into the competition and gives an idea of who will be in Gareth Southgate’s thoughts for his finalised World Cup squad. 

 

Tammy Abraham – AS Roma 

Tammy Abraham was deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea when he made the move from Stamford Bridge to Jose Mourinho’s Roma last year, but he has certainly proved his doubters wrong with a fantastic season at the Stadio Olympico. 

With 17 goals in his first Serie A campaign, helping his team earn a Europa League spot next season and also lifting the Europa Conference League trophy: was Roma’s first major honour in 14 years, he’s had a lot of success already. 

He has undoubtedly earned his place in Gareth Southgate’s squad with a proven goalscoring record. Not many English players make it abroad, but Tammy Abraham’s value has only gone up since moving to Italy. 

Played: 37 

Goals: 17 

Goals per game: 0.46 

Assists: 4 

  

Jarrod Bowen – West Ham United 

Jarrod Bowen only made his England debut in the first Nations League game in the defeat to Hungary and he was considered one of the few positives in what was a somewhat lacklustre team performance. 

But Bowen has certainly earned his spot in the team after a barnstorming season for the Hammers which saw him net twelve times and assist the same amount – getting him a reputation as one of the Premier League’s best wingers. 

He had to work his way up from League 2 with Hereford United, to the Championship with Hull City and now the top end of the Premier League with West Ham to get in the national team, so he certainly deserves all the plaudits he gets. 

You’d expect him to be part of Southgate’s World Cup plans. 

Played: 36 

Goals: 12 

Goals per game: 0.33 

Assists: 12 

 

Phil Foden – Manchester City 

Manchester City’s Phil Foden is one of the most exciting players in the Premiership at the moment and at the age of just 22 he has already won four league titles, an FA cup, four League Cups and a Champions League runner-up medal. 

He definitely knows what it means to be part of a winning team and that’s something that could be key to England’s success in the future. With nine goals and five assists this season and consistently good performances, he has undoubtedly played a key part in helping City lift the Premier League title once again. 

Given his young age, you can see him being a massive player for England for many years to come. 

Played: 28 

Goals: 9 

Goals per game: 0.32 

Assists: 5 

 

Jack Grealish – Manchester City 

Jack Grealish’s £100m move from Aston Villa to Man City last summer came with a certain level of expectation and perhaps the 26-year-old did not quite reach the heights that he wanted to this season, but he still played a role in a title-winning campaign. 

He scored just three goals and made three assists in 26 appearances in the league. Although, Pep Guardiola told the media that he needs to stop listening to stats so much because to “help your team-mates to make the process defensively and offensively better, is enough.” 

Gareth Southgate will hope he can do enough to help England’s hope of success in the Nations League and the World Cup later this year. 

Played: 26 

Goals: 3 

Goals per game: 0.12 

Assists: 3 

 

Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur 

Spurs number nine and proverbial goal machine Harry Kane is seemingly undroppable from the England squad – and for good reason. He’s scored 49 goals for his country from 70 caps and is just four behind England’s record goal scorer Wayne Rooney, in 50 less appearances. 

But he’s also been very successful yet again for his club, netting 17 times in 37 matches this season, helping Spurs qualify for their first Champions League since 2019. He’s also gained the ability to drop deeper and ping passes around the pitch, which has been invaluable to Tottenham and has helped get him nine assists, the most in any season of his career. 

He will hope to carry this good form to his international performances, and you would think he would have to be firing on all cylinders if England wish to lift a trophy anytime soon. 

Played: 37 

Goals: 17 

Goals per game: 0.46 

Assists: 9 

 

Bukayo Saka – Arsenal 

Arsenal’s pacey winger Bukayo Saka suffered heartbreak in the Euro final last year, but he will surely get opportunities to rectify that in the future after another good season with Arsenal. 

He seems to be living up to his potential, with 11 goals and seven assists after featuring in every Premier League game for the gunners. 

Saka has the ability to cut inside onto his stronger left foot to shoot, as well as supply good crosses from wide areas. Hopefully, the 20-year-old can continue to flourish under Gareth Southgate. 

Played: 38 

Goals: 11 

Goals per game: 0.29 

Assists: 7 

  

Raheem Sterling – Manchester City 

Raheem Sterling has a great record for England, so it’s unsurprising to see him feature in the England squad once again. The winger has scored 19 goals in 74 caps for England so far, as well as making 25 assists in all competitions. 

In the league for Manchester City he has only started 61% of matches, but he has still managed to chip in with 13 goals and six assists to help them lift the Premier League title. 

As a proven goalscorer and creator and now at the age of 27, Sterling will arguably be at his peak for the World Cup and that should be great news for England fans. 

Played: 30 

Goals: 13 

Goals per game: 0.43 

Assists: 6