The Wigan Athletic old-boy network underpinning England's World Cup hopes!

The Chelsea captain - who spent a memorable season on loan at Wigan in 2018/19 - will be experiencing his first World Cup at the ripe old age of 26.

Injury has so far restricted James to a mere 24 international caps, meaning this tournament will be extra special.

"I’ve always wanted to play in a World Cup," he said. "The last one I didn’t make, it wasn’t meant to be that year, and I’m excited for what’s to come in the future.

"It’s always a better vibe when there’s big stakes on the line, and you’re playing against the best teams in the world."

James is one of three players in the England squad to have played for Latics in the EFL.

Dan Burn, whose selection came at the expense of Harry Maguire, who spent the second half of the 2014/15 campaign on loan at Wigan from Hull City, says the bond in the camp will be key to England's chances.

“We’ve made a big thing - since the very first camp we had together - about having this brotherhood and being together,” said Burn, who played for Latics between 2016-2019.

“I feel like a lot of the time the team that end up winning tournaments like these are the teams who are close.

“It’s about trying to get to know each other on a deeper level. So, what the staff have created at the hotel we’ve got now should help along with that.”

Burn’s selection is widely understood to be as much about his presence in the dressing room as on the pitch.

And the 34-year-old is ready to help in any way he can, even if he does not get any minutes.

“I just want to be here and help the team however possible that is, whether I start, whether I come on, whether I don’t play a minute, I’ll not feel I have contributed any less than anyone else,” he said.

“I think that’s important. I feel like this is the type of tournament where we have players who are the stars for their clubs normally, and they’re going to have to take a little bit of a different role.

“That’s leaning into that brotherhood thing again, where we are just happy for each other and happy to help out as much as we can.”

The third former 'Tic to keep an eye on is Ivan Toney, who spent the first half of the 2017/18 campaign on loan from Newcastle United.

Boss Thomas Tuchel has a very specific role in mind for him.

“He can start, but I don’t see him as a starter," said Tuchel. "His role is to finish matches for us.

"He is part of a special operations team. He knows that and that’s his role. Off the pitch, he is glue. He is someone who connects with everyone very, very well.”

Tuchel's No.2 is Anthony Barry, who worked alongside the German at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, after leaving Latics in 2020, shortly after the club was placed into administration.

Barry also worked under Roberto Martinez with both the national sides of Belgium and Portugal between 2022-2024.