Leeds United have a number of talented English players in their team at the moment, and while Kalvin Phillips is now a bona fide international, there are others waiting in the wings, such as Patrick Bamford, Luke Ayling and perhaps most prevalently Jack Harrison.
It’s never easy to get into an England team, after all, the World Cup semi-finalists are stacked with talent, with the likes of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jadon Sancho seen amongst the world’s best in their positions.
However, one spot that has been causing Gareth Southgate all sorts of headaches is left-wing-back.
Southgate has recently experimented with a five at the back system, but his biggest issue while using that system has been his lack of options on the left side, with the former Middlesbrough manager even opting to use a natural right-footer in Kieran Trippier there on a number of occasions.
Of course, there are a few decent options on the left, but with Ben Chilwell looking rather injury prone this season, and Luke Shaw’s form always blowing hot and cold, he may need another option.
Luckily, there may be a new option emerging down that side at Elland Road.
Jack Harrison doesn’t play at wing-back for Leeds, but he does have a lot of defensive responsibility, and that means he could be moulded to play in that position, much like how someone like Solly March has been at Brighton or Victor Moses on the opposite flank at Chelsea under Antonio Conte.
Harrison certainly has the engine to get up and down the flank if he is asked to play as a wing-back, his fitness has to be second-to-none when playing under Bielsa in his intense all guns blazing system, and he could be a real asset for England, if he’s played in a slightly deeper role.
Harrison is a competent defender, averaging 1.8 tackles and 0.5 interceptions per game this season, meaning that his tackles per game tally is higher than both Shaw and Chilwell’s, while his interception numbers are also competitive, and that’s in spite of the fact he plays further up.
If Southgate is keen to play a back five with wing-backs, then he could do a lot worse than having Harrison as an option there, while his versatility may also allow that system to be a little more fluid as Harrison can also operate further forward.
Southgate should certainly have his eyes on what the Manchester City loanee is doing.
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