Ian Wright has claimed that Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold will be absolutely fine if he’s picked in the England World Cup squad.
Gareth Southgate is poised to name the players who’ll be travelling to Qatar for the Three Lions’ later this month.
It remains to be seen if the Liverpool right-back will be included in the squad.
The 24-year-old has been cut from England selections before and with a number of suspect defensive performances this season, the Reds’ academy product isn’t guaranteed a seat.
But with Reece James set to miss the tournament, Alexander-Arnold could – and probably will – benefit from that blow.
Speaking to the Wrighty’s House podcast, the Arsenal icon’s co-hosts questioned whether Alexander-Arnold had the right mentality this season to be an asset at the World Cup, something that Wright is certain about.
He said: “No. What you lost are underestimating is the character of the player. I know him. I what he’s about. That [pressure] all goes out the window because I think he’s done it before and knows how to get himself into that place.”
When is England squad announced?
Southgate will confirm his final England squad on Thursday afternoon and it’ll be fascinating to see if the Liverpool star is included.
There is more than enough reasons to doubt his defensive quality but, in an attacking sense, Alexander-Arnold destroys most of the Three Lions’ other options, regardless of the position.
With the ball at this feet, the 24-year-old can and does make things happen, and that should be enough to get him on the plane.
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