Why England’s defensive vulnerabilities will be giving Gareth Southgate sleepless nights

England’s glorious run to last year’s European Championship final was built on a stingy defence that conceded just twice during the tournament.

Unfortunately for manager Gareth Southgate, things are a little different as his squad head to Qatar this week. First-choice central defender John Stones was played out of position at right back on Saturday as Manchester City slumped to a shock defeat at home to Brentford.

His central defensive partner Harry Maguire was on the bench again for Manchester United’s late victory at Fulham.

A run of poor form has seen Harry Maguire fall out of favour under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United

While Eric Dier has slumped since earning a recall to the national team earlier this year

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and back-up centre half Conor Coady had a miserable afternoon at Bournemouth, which ended with them quarrelling with their own irate supporters after Everton fell to a humiliating 3-0 loss.

Eric Dier was at the heart of a Tottenham defence that conceded three goals at home to Leeds, his performance doing nothing to quell fears that his form has dipped alarmingly since he was handed an England recall earlier this season.

City’s Kyle Walker has not kicked a ball since October 2 after groin surgery. Then there is the ongoing concern about the defensive qualities of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.

So Southgate has plenty of cause for concern and will be hoping his back line can rediscover the form that made them so hard to break down at the Euros. Right now, however, the England manager’s defenders are in disarray.

That is not to say it will not click when England step out to face Iran a week today, but not even the most optimistic observer could put a positive spin on the squad’s defensive preparations for the tournament.

Kieran Trippier, however, is currently in the best form of his career under Eddie Howe at Newcastle

There are some positives, though. Kieran Trippier is flying high with Newcastle and has a strong chance of starting the tournament as first-choice right back due to the absence of Reece James, Walker’s fitness concerns and worries over Alexander-Arnold’s form.

Trippier, 32, is playing some of the best football of his career — and if he does make the XI, he will do so on merit.

On the opposite flank, Luke Shaw has won his place back in the Manchester United XI and, with Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell injured, goes into the tournament guaranteed to be England’s first-choice left back.

Ben White’s performances have been sensational for Arsenal this season — and his versatility and form could prove invaluable for Southgate over the next five weeks as he looks to address the issues that have derailed his defensive plans.

But unless there is a spate of injuries or Southgate springs a major shock, White will spend the World Cup mostly coming off the bench.

Southgate’s problems at the back are not, fortunately for him, replicated around the rest of the pitch, where England have much to be positive about.

While Jude Bellingham is constantly developing and will make an impact in Qatar

Declan Rice is developing into one of the best holding midfielders in Europe, despite West Ham’s inconsistency. Hammers supporters should make the most of him while they can, because he will not be there much longer.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham should start next to Rice in England’s engine room. If the world does not know about Bellingham yet, they will by the time the tournament is over.

Kalvin Phillips, such an integral figure for England at the Euros, is winning his battle to be fit for Qatar following a shoulder operation.

The seemingly ever-dependable Harry Kane will head to the tournament in goalscoring form

Jordan Henderson is as experienced as they come, Mason Mount remains one of Southgate’s go-to guys, while Conor Gallagher heads into his first international tournament with the exuberance of youth.

In attack, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Callum Wilson make up arguably the most complete and feared forward line in the entire tournament.

There is so much to like about the 26-man squad Southgate selected last week, yet it is still so difficult to make a case for the defence.