Rashford for Sterling would be sensible and a sign Southgate runs a meritocracy

Sterling has not shown the form or ruthlessness with England to justify keeping a World Cup starting place against Panama but do not write him off

At least the signals are that Gareth Southgate’s national set-up is run as a meritocracy. Raheem Sterling had spent the buildup to this tournament as England’s match-winner elect, one of a handful of players in an inexperienced squad who had tasted life at a World Cup and a Premier League title winner who had dazzled with Manchester City. The sense was these were to be his finals. They may still be yet.

But, in a group where everyone is hungry to impress, every quiet performance jeopardises the next involvement. Sterling had shown flashes of his quality in the friendly win over Nigeria at Wembley but Marcus Rashford had scored a memorable goal from distance and tormented his opposing full-backs on the flanks when granted his own run-out against Costa Rica in Leeds. Even on Monday against Tunisia Sterling’s partnership with Harry Kane had rarely fired and, confidence perhaps rocked by a miss at the far post, his display rather petered out. The man who replaced him could run at tiring legs, and did so with relish. Rashford has earned his chance from the start.

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