Gareth Southgate announced his 27-man England squad last week for upcoming friendlies with the Netherlands and Italy, and because of the lesser level of proven top-quality available to the Three Lions these days it has inevitably divided opinion.

While it's always exciting to see young players given the chance to prove themselves at senior level, it still feels as if some Englishmen enjoying good form were overlooked in the process - perhaps because they don't ply their trades with fashionable, high-end Premier League clubs.

And that could prove to be a huge mistake on Southgate's part as we head into the World Cup. Although the England gaffer has taken a long-term approach to his tenure, looking to build a side for the future, the tournament in Russia this summer is knockout football from practically the first game - a little dose of pragmatism could go a very long way.

With that in mind, here's a look at four players who shouldn't have been included in Southgate's latest squad, and the four players who should have been called up instead.

The wrong man: Although Joe Hart deserves to still be in contention for England's No.1 berth at the World Cup, simply due to the fact he's easily the most experienced and internationally proven option at Southgate's disposal, it's hard to tell what exactly the Three Lions gaffer will learn by starting the West Ham loan signing in either of the upcoming games. He's already more than aware of Hart's experience at this level and his inherent weaknesses, so the two friendlies should really be auditions for Nick Pope, Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford only. Perhaps Southgate wanted to avoid the media storm leaving out Hart may have caused, but it still seems an unnecessary call-up - who needs four goalkeepers for two games?

The right call-up: In light of some of the players who have been given the nod in recent years, it's quite incredible that Marc Albrighton has never come close to being handed a cap for England at senior level. He can play on either flank, he doesn't make mistakes defensively, he works incredibly hard and he's one of the few English wide men who actually add width to the midfield in the traditional sense, always whipping in crosses from the touchline rather than looking to drift inside. Amid another solid season for Leicester, the 28-year-old deserves a chance.

The wrong man: Options at left-back are admittedly limited and Danny Rose is undoubtedly one of the world's best when he's enjoying top form. But how can Southgate justify leaving out Danny Drinkwater on the grounds of a lack of game time when he's selecting a defender who has made just twelve starts across all competitions this season? Likewise, it's another case of Southgate already knowing what he can expect from Rose - these friendlies should mostly be a chance for alternatives to make a case for themselves ahead of the World Cup.

The right call-up: Many have made cautionary comparisons with the way Theo Walcott was unexpectedly fast-tracked into the England senior team, only for the now-Everton winger to struggle with the subsequent expectations for much of his career. But Ryan Sessegnon has been arguably the best player in the Championship this season, scoring 14 goals and making five assists in 38 appearances, and that's an incredible achievement for a 17-year-old. Capable of playing at left-back or on the wing, he would have been perfect for the 3-4-3 setup Southgate appears keen to use at the World Cup as well.

The wrong man: Jake Livermore has made himself something of a Southgate favourite, called up six times during 2017 alone, but the reasons why aren't exactly forthcoming. Sure, the 28-year-old can put a shift in defensively yet England already have two midfielders more than capable of doing so in Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier, both of whom are younger and offer more quality on the ball. Furthermore, Livermore's form this season has been underwhelming to say the least - Taxi-gate aside, he's not even held down a permanent role in a West Brom team that's about to finish rock bottom of the Premier League.

The right call-up: A far bigger problem than England's solidity in the engine room is finding the creativity to accompany it, and although Southgate does have some options to address that in the current squad through Jack Wilshere, Lewis Cook and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jonjo Shelvey is surely due the chance to prove himself as well, especially after a good run of form for Newcastle in recent months. The former Charlton Athletic youngster can be a loose cannon at times, but his vision and technical ability seem a good fit for the international game.

The wrong man: While Danny Welbeck's record at international level can't be faulted, an incredible 18 English players have scored more goals than him in the Premier League this season amid another campaign blighted by injury. He's now Arsenal's third-best strike option and is only getting minutes in the Europa League because the other two aren't available with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cup-tied and Alexandre Lacazette injured. Regardless, he appears to have claimed a place in the latest squad on past glories, rather than actual form.

The right call-up: Glenn Murray may not offer England much longevity at the age of 34, but it's become increasingly rare for England to take strikers to international tournaments while enjoying top form. Murray though has scored the fourth-most Premier League goals of any Englishman this season, by demonstrating a positional intelligence and composure in front of goal that more than compensates for his ageing legs. A handful in the air as well, he would have given something England a little different in the absence of Harry Kane.