Speaking on the ITV Football Podcast, Gary Neville has given his verdict on England’s midfield, claiming that Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice are almost guaranteed starters at this point.
England have a number of decent options in the middle of the park with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson competing for a spot, but Neville thinks that a pivot of Rice and Phillips is now Gareth Southgate’s preferred pairing.
What’s been said?
Neville, a former England coach, has claimed that Phillips and Rice are now pretty-much guaranteed starters.
“Yes, I think the two in front will always happen. I think he thinks the weakness in the team is still the defence, so I think he has to play more positional central midfield players whether that’s Jordan or Kalvin Phillips with Declan Rice,” Neville said.
“Declan Rice is a certainty and I think Kalvin Phillips now, to be honest with you, for me, he’s almost a certainty alongside him, and Gareth loves him.”
They should be
Neville says that Phillips and Rice are guaranteed starters, and if Gareth Southgate has any sense they will be.
Now, we’re not saying that Jordan Henderson doesn’t deserve a spot in this England team, but given his lack of match fitness, it’s hard to say that he deserves a spot in that midfield at this moment in time.
The question remains, are Phillips and Rice good enough to lead England to glory? The truth is we don’t know yet.
They’re both supremely talented midfielders, but we haven’t really seen them tested at this level yet.
Whether or not Rice and Phillips continue to start for England remains to be seen.
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