Gareth Southgate has defended Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's call-up to the England squad.

The midfielder has only recently returned to full fitness after missing almost all of last season with a knee injury.

But Southgate rates Oxlade-Chamberlain highly and said that had he been fit, he would've started in the 2018 World Cup.

"I hope it will be a big moment. I think we are quite clear that he would have been in our starting team in the World Cup if he was fit," Southgate said.

"He had such a great form and that cruel injury robbed him of that. I am delighted he is back on the right path.

"He is not quite back to his best standard but I thought he has been playing well and hopefully we can help him get back to speed. He also sees that we have faith in him."