Alex Brooker reveals the player who could be England's secret weapon as they prepare to take on the rest of the world at Soccer Aid 2024

Fans of the long-suffering Three Lions could have cause to cheer on Sunday when England take on the old enemy at Stamford Bridge – and Gareth Southgate will be nowhere in sight.

Indeed, as Southgate prepares for what could be his final tournament in charge of the senior men's team at UEFA Euro 2024, Harry Redknapp, Frank Lampard and David Seaman will be hoping their team of celebrity misfits and personalities retired sportswomen will be able to do a job at Chelsea's Premier League stadium.

That's right, Soccer Aid is back, and the one-night-only charity match – launched by pop star Robbie Williams and his close friend Jonathan Wilkes in 2006 – will serve as the perfect pre-tournament appetizer when it kicks off on June 9.

That year, presenter Paddy McGuinness, actors Danny Dyer and Tom Hiddleston, singer Tom Grennan and comedian Alex Brooker were part of an England team which also included retired footballers Gary Cahill, Jack Wilshere, David James and Theo Walcott.

Stuart Broad, Sam Quek and Mo Farah switch disciplines to football, after being elite athletes in cricket, hockey and long-distance running respectively.

Also in attendance are the Sidemen's Simon Minter, entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, TV personality Sam Thompson and boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.

But despite their wealth of experience, Brooker believes the key to winning back the Soccer Aid trophy after six consecutive defeats lies elsewhere.

Speaking to virginradio.co.uk, The Last Leg star rated England's chances of winning the competition for the first time since 2018 – and identified teammate Bobby Brazier as his “secret weapon”.

'I bet you [Bobby Brazier] is a very good player,” he said. “Honestly, I've never seen him play football before, [but] I bet you he's a very good footballer.

“I think he's in good shape too – this guy is strictly finished!” He's in good physical shape, which is a big plus when you're surrounded by people like me: I need someone to run! So yeah, I think Bobby will be amazing.

England will face a World XI led for the second year running by former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino – who faces a difficult return to Stamford Bridge just weeks after his unexpected sacking.

Pochettino's one-year reign as manager came to an end when the Blues announced a “mutual agreement” to relieve him of his duties halfway through his two-year contract.

Speaking in a statement after being dismissed, Pochettino said: “Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and sporting directors for this opportunity.

“The club is now well placed to continue to progress in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”

Fortunately, the Argentine has been handed a rather less bloated squad than the one he inherited at Chelsea, with Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt joining presenter Roman Kemp, retired boxer Tony Bellew and Tommy Fury among the celebrities competing this year.

They will join international sporting legends, including former Chelsea stars Eden Hazard, Petr Čech, Michael Essien and Mikel John Obi, at the start of the match.

“It kind of blows my mind,” Alex said of the game’s popularity. “It’s an incredible event for such an incredible cause… So please come and support us.”

“It's going to be an incredible game, an incredible spectacle, and the cause is the best. Hopefully this year we can take the money raised through Soccer Aid beyond the £100 million mark.