Matt Doherty has called on Gareth Southgate to unleash Tottenham Hotspur teammate Eric Dier against USA in the World Cup this evening.
England go into their second Group B encounter on the back of a 6-2 demolition of Iran.
Southgate is unlikely to change much but Harry Maguire picked up an injury with 20 minutes remaining of that victory, with the Tottenham defender replacing him.
It remains to be seen if the Manchester United centre-back will be starting against the Americans today.
But Doherty is desperate to see his Spurs teammate replace Maguire in the starting lineup nonetheless, claiming that the Three Lions need his range of passing from defence.
He told the Lilywhites’ official website: “Come on Gareth, get Eric in! England need him spraying balls around from the back. His time is coming!”
Dier is an excellent defender on his day, but he can also be a major liability.
Tottenham supporters have seen that first hand in recent weeks and therefore Maguire is likely to continue in central defence if he’s available.
‘If it isn’t broken then don’t fix it’ is a sound maxim and one that Southgate most probably believes in, too.
Tottenham will at least have some representation, with Harry Kane training in the build-up to this encounter following concerns about his own fitness.
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