Just some of the questions facing England boss Roy Hodgson as he prepares to select a provisional squad for the World Cup in Brazil.He plans to announce 23 names and seven standbys on 13 May before confirming a 23-man touring party with Fifa by 2 June; 10 days prior to the tournament starting and 12 days before England face Italy in their Group D opener in Manaus.Since Hodgson took over as manager two years ago, 57 different players have been involved on 25 match days. Their final international audition took place on Wednesday, England beating Denmark 1-0, and now comes a telling period as club football resumes and injury fears abound.Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad included three goalkeepers, seven defenders, nine midfielders and four strikers. What will he do this time? And who will board the flight to South America?GoalkeepersDefinitely on the plane: Joe Hart (26, Manchester City, 39 caps)Almost there: Fraser Forster (25, Celtic, one cap)Facing an anxious wait: John Ruddy (27, Norwich, one cap)Making a late charge: Jack Butland (20, Stoke City, one cap), Ben Foster (30, West Brom, six caps)The left-field possibility? Robert Green (34, QPR, 12 caps)Despite losing his place in the Manchester City team for a spell earlier this season, Hart has been England's undisputed number one for almost four years.His 39 caps have brought 20 clean sheets and he has played in all but three of Hodgson's 25 games in charge. With that in mind, some questioned the wisdom of giving Hart 90 minutes against Denmark and, although he made a fine save from Morten Rasmussen at 0-0, might it not have been more beneficial to bring Forster and/or Ruddy and/or Foster off the bench?Forster has now featured in 12 match-day squads but made only one start. For Ruddy it is 14 match-day squads and one substitute appearance, while Foster has not started for England since 2010.That lack of international exposure could prove costly if Hart gets injured. At just shy of 21, Butland is spending a third loan stint away from Stoke City and looks to be one for the future.DefendersDefinitely on the plane: Leighton Baines (29, Everton, 22 caps, one goal), Gary Cahill (28, Chelsea, 22 caps, two goals), Phil Jagielka (31, Everton, 24 caps, one goal), Glen Johnson (29, Liverpool, 50 caps, one goal), Phil Jones (22, Manchester United, nine caps), Chris Smalling (24, Manchester United, 10 caps)Almost there: Kyle Walker (23, Tottenham, 10 caps)Facing an anxious wait: Ashley Cole (33, Chelsea, 107 caps), Luke Shaw (18, Southampton, one cap)Making a late charge: Nathaniel Clyne (22, Southampton, uncapped), Kieran Gibbs (24, Arsenal, three caps)The left-field possibility? Joleon Lescott (31, Manchester City, 26 caps, one goal)No outfield player has featured in more match-day squads under Hodgson than Baines, and the manager's decision to rest him against Denmark made clear his regard for the Everton left-back.That allowed Hodgson to assess Cole, who has started all 22 games at major tournaments played by England since the opening match of the 2002 World Cup finals, and Shaw, a regular for Southampton at 18.Both spent a half on the field and showed they would offer strong competition - or back-up - to Baines this summer, although the consensus around Wembley was that Cole would probably edge it.At centre-half, Jagielka and Cahill have established themselves as Hodgson's preferred partnership. A hamstring injury ruled Jagielka out of the Denmark friendly and Cahill looked less convincing alongside Smalling, though the latter did appear far more comfortable centrally than he has of late at right-back for Manchester United.It is, however, still difficult to escape the feeling England could do with a commanding leader there - a John Terry or Rio Ferdinand-type figure - as former England defender Danny Mills alluded to in the BBC Radio 5 live commentary.Johnson, meanwhile, marked his 50th cap with an assured display as a marauding right-back, linking more fluidly than usual with midfield and attack. When fit, Walker and Jones are also reliable options.There is unlikely to be space for Lescott, a go-to man for Hodgson until last summer and scorer of England's first goal at Euro 2012, while those championing Clyne will probably have to wait.MidfieldersDefinitely on the plane: Michael Carrick (32, Manchester United, 31 caps), Steven Gerrard, captain (33, Liverpool, 109 caps, 21 goals), Jack Wilshere (22, Arsenal, 15 caps), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (20, Arsenal, 14 caps, three goals)Almost there: Jordan Henderson (23, Liverpool, eight caps), Adam Lallana (25, Southampton, three caps), Raheem Sterling (19, Liverpool, two caps), Andros Townsend (22, Tottenham, five caps, one goal)Facing an anxious wait: Tom Cleverley (24, Manchester United, 13 caps), Frank Lampard (35, Chelsea, 103 caps, 29 goals), James Milner (28, Manchester City, 45 caps, one goal)Making a late charge: Ross Barkley (20, Everton, three caps), Gareth Barry (33, Everton, 53 caps, three goals), Adam Johnson (26, Sunderland, 12 caps, two goals)The left-field possibility? Ashley Young (28, Manchester United, 30 caps, seven goals)As captain and orchestrator-in-chief, Gerrard is perhaps the only cast-iron selection in this fiercely competitive area of the team. Carrick's ability to perform the holding role could prove vital in Brazil, with even an average Denmark side exposing how vulnerable England are in that part of the pitch when facing a counter-attack.Oxlade-Chamberlain's progress was checked in August by a knee injury that ruled him out for several months, but he seems to be returning to full sharpness and memories of his superb equaliser against Brazil in the Maracana will not fade in a hurry.There must be concerns over the availability of Jack Wilshere, who writhed in agony following a tackle by Daniel Agger on Wednesday and, despite playing on, was subsequently ruled out for six weeks with ankle ligament damage. He will not play again until around mid-April, meaning he will have limited time to prove his fitness before the squad is named.Lallana came off the bench to impress for the third time in as many caps, setting the tone with a majestic Cruyff turn before crossing for Sturridge to head the winner and generally looking at ease at this level.It is a similar story for Sterling, deservedly named sponsor's man of the match for a display combining lightning pace with intelligent movement, precise long and short passing and tenacious tracking back.The 19-year-old, who has two caps, has hit a purple patch for club and country - and the question now might not be whether he goes to the World Cup but whether he warrants a starting place.But for a few nice touches, including an exquisite flick to set up Danny Welbeck in the second half, Henderson did not exert the sort of influence he has for Liverpool, although this was his first start under Hodgson and his relationship with Gerrard could be key.Townsend's rapid rise to help England qualify for Brazil endeared him to the fans, and whenever he collects possession there is a hum of excitement around Wembley.Since the November friendlies against Chile and Germany, the winger has not exactly pulled up trees for Tottenham, but his propensity to do something out of nothing is not shared by many.There is greater concern surrounding Hodgson regulars Cleverley, Lampard and Milner - the latter two rarely starting for their clubs and Cleverley the subject of an online petition for him to be banned from being picked for the World Cup squad. One man many would like to see step in is Everton youngster Barkley.Hodgson has already warned England's "big-name" players that at least one of them faces missing out  on the World Cup.ForwardsDefinitely on the plane: Wayne Rooney (28, Manchester United, 89 caps, 38 goals), Daniel Sturridge (24, Liverpool, 10 caps, three goals), Danny Welbeck (23, Manchester United, 21 caps, eight goals)Almost there: Rickie Lambert (32, Southampton, four caps, two goals)Facing an anxious wait: Jermain Defoe (31, Toronto, 55 caps, 19 goals)Making a late charge: Jay Rodriguez (24, Southampton, one cap)The left-field possibility? Andy Carroll (25, West Ham, nine caps, two goals)This is not an area in which England are particularly well stocked, although the likes of Sterling and Lallana do tend to operate as wide forwards when England attack.Rooney and Sturridge are Hodgson's most obvious sources of firepower and there will be huge pressure on them to lead the line for their country as they do their clubs.Admirable as it was to see both men dropping deep to assist their defence and midfield in the first half against Denmark, that is not their prime responsibility and it only succeeded in stripping England of a focal point up front.That changed when Rooney went off and Sturridge assumed a more central role, which coincided with the hosts' most dangerous period.Welbeck's arrival also provided a more direct, incisive threat and the Manchester United man, another of Hodgson's most-used players, was twice denied by excellent saves. Beyond those three, England look thin.Defoe has featured in all but two of Hodgson's match-day squads but a move to Toronto FC in the MLS could undermine his chances, while the manager's decision not to use either Rickie Lambert or Southampton team-mate Jay Rodriguez off the bench on Wednesday could be ominous.He has not ruled out a return for Carroll should the West Ham striker prove his form and fitness in the final months of the season. If Hodgson needs a reminder of what the 6ft 3in frontman can do, he only needs to recall England's dramatic victory over Sweden at Euro 2012.(BBC)ANN.Az