Martin Keown asked what Tottenham’s Eric Dier’s best position is

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Eric Dier is arguably one of the most versatile players in the Premier League, featuring in Tottenham Hotspur’s defence and midfield.

Martin Keown has told The Daily Mail that he thinks that Eric Dier is England’s best centre-back when asked whether the Tottenham star is a better defender or midfielder.

Dier has been used in a variety of positions for both Spurs and England over the years, and has arguably performed well enough in each role for a case to be put forward that centre-back, holding midfield or central midfield could be his best position in the squad.

But ahead of the North London derby, Arsenal hero Keown has been full of praise for the 23-year-old, insisting that he would deploy him in the back line if it was up to him.

“Dier is such an outstanding player that he can play in midfield. Ultimately, if England had better midfield players he would be in the back line,” he told the Daily Mail.

“For me, Dier is England’s best central defender. I read this morning that Gareth Southgate intends to play him as a defender at the World Cup.

“While that is the right move, he needs to play on the right of a back three rather than in the middle.”

For a defender who was as successful as Keown to make such a claim about Dier arguably says a lot about how good the Tottenham man has become, especially given Keown’s allegiances to their bitter rivals.

And while Pochettino predominantly using Dier closer to the middle of the park this season would have hinted that he may not feature in what Keown considers to be his strongest position in the derby this Saturday, the fact that Spurs will be without Toby Alderweireld for the game just hints that it is now more likely that Dier will drop back in at centre-back.