Matthew Upson has told BBC Radio 5 Live (13/10/20 at 7:15 pm) that Bukayo Saka is ‘growing’ into the left-back role and he should start there for England tonight.
The former Premier League defender feels Saka should get the nod over his Arsenal teammate Ainsley Maitland-Niles because he ‘adds more balance’ to the side.
England will take on Denmark in a UEFA Nations League encounter at Wembley, with the Arsenal duo seemingly fighting for one starting spot.
But Upson’s comments about Arsenal’s rising duo will spark mixed reaction because, on one hand, he’s backing Saka to do bits, but on the other, he doesn’t think that the left-back role is ‘the most dominant’ area for Maitland-Niles.
“I think it’s Saka [to start for England over Maitland-Niles],” Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live. “He did well enough the other night [v Wales] and he’s a naturally a left-sided player. And I think that’s important.
“I think it adds more balance to the team. He loves going forward. In terms of a long term permanent fixture on that left-hand side, I think you can see Saka possibly growing into that role. Maitland-Niles, who has performed brilliantly there for Arsenal from time to time, but I don’t think that’s his most dominant position on the pitch.
“I think Saka has done enough to show that he should get the nod ahead of Maitland-Niles. Another opportunity. A door opens for him.”
Ben Chilwell was meant to start for England at left-back during these international fixtures, but off-the-field issues now see him sitting at home.
Atletico Madrid right-back, Kieran Trippier has also been utilised in that role, but he has had to leave the England camp to deal with off-field issues as well.
That then leaves the Arsenal duo to battle it out for that one spot and it will be interesting to see who Southgate pushes for because Saka did reasonably well when he was handed his debut against Wales last Thursday.
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