England new boys including James Tarkowski and Alfie Mawson put through paces in training at St George’s Park
Nick Pope and Lewis Cook also hoping to make their international marks with debuts against Holland or Italy
GARETH SOUTHGATE welcomed his England new boys to St George's Park for the build-up to two friendly internationals with Holland and Italy.
Uncapped Swansea defender Alfie Mawson and Burnley counterpart James Tarkowski signed in looking for a stab at making their Three Lions debut.
They were joined by the other new recruits, Burnley keeper Nick Pope and Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook.
Jack Wilshere, whose last cap came in England's dreadful Euro 2016 loss to tiny Iceland, also checked in.
Elsewhere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain caught up with Wilshere and another old Arsenal team-mate in striker Danny Welbeck.
But it was a massive day for the four latest members of Southgate's England revolution.
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Mawson, aged 24, Tarkowski, 25, Pope, 25, and Cook, 21, will all hope to get some game time in the two internationals.
Actual competitive play will further improve their chances of making the final squad for the World Cup finals in Russia.
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England face the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday; Italy are the visitors to Wembley next Tuesday.
There are two more friendlies, against Nigeria and Costa Rica, for Southgate to make final preparations ahead of the first World Cup match against Tunisia in Volgograd on June 18.
The lads have some catching up to do restore the nation's flagging reputation at major tournaments.
It's hardly been plain sailing lately when it comes to the crunch.
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At the World Cup in Brazil four years ago Roy Hodgson's men failed to win a single group game and were eliminated early on.
And then at Euro 2016 came that humiliating defeat by Iceland in the last 16.
In Mawson, Tarkowski, Pope and Cook it's very much a case of looking forward... not back.