England manager Gareth Southgate will name his final 23-man squad for this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia on Wednesday, May 16 according to the English Football Association (FA).

The former Middlesborough manager has decided to unveil his squad earlier than the June 4 FIFA deadline and two days after the deadline to send a 35-man provisional squad to world football’s governing body FIFA.

He will thereafter talk about his selection for the tournament at a media conference scheduled for the Wembley Stadium on Thursday.

Southgate will also add a further five players in case of injury.

England will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in an international friendly on June 2 before facing Costa Rica in another friendly game ahead of the team’s World Cup opener against Tunisia on June 16.

The Three Lions will also face Belgium and Panama in their group.[tps_header][/tps_header]