Southgate freely admits some of his fringe players are desperate for first-team football, but having seen central defender David Wheater emerge from the ranks so successfully amid an injury crisis last summer, he is keen to keep his options open.

Southgate said: "There are a couple of players who were frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities last year, but I think they will all want to come back in pre-season and see what the situation is.

summer period

"Obviously, if we bring players in, that might impact on their opportunities again, but we have to try to evolve the squad, we have to try to continue to progress.

"Some of those younger players will come back stronger and better after the summer period. We haven't had offers for any of our players. The only interest we have had is in taking a couple of players who we have had loan enquiries for.

"But I am not prepared to make those decisions yet because any one of our players could be in the first-team at the moment."