Harry Redknapp thinks Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier has ‘every chance’ of being recalled by Gareth Southgate into England’s squad.
The Three Lions boss is set to name his squad for the upcoming internationals on Thursday and Redknapp thinks Dier can play at the back for his country, especially given that it is a ‘big problem area’, as he told talkSPORT (14/09/22 at 9:30 am).
The 28-year-old last tasted international football prior to Euro 2020, when his form in Spurs colours started to dip, and it cost him a place at a major tournament on home soil.
With the 2022 World Cup in Qatar around the corner, Dier doesn’t want to be missing out again, especially given that he has perhaps been the best-performing English centre-back for the past 12 months.
Playing in a back three, as the central figure, Antonio Conte has got the best out of a player, who for many years, was still trying to work out whether he is a centre-back or a midfielder.
Well, this is the best football he has played during his career and Redknapp thinks it will result in the player receiving some very good news today.
“I would say he is going to be right in the frame,” said Redknapp. “When you look at defensively for the World Cup, we aren’t exactly overloaded, that is a big problem area for us.
“He is a player that can play at the back. He can also play in central midfield. He could do a job in there. I think he’s a real option for a World Cup spot and he can certainly play in the team. I think there is every chance it could happen.”
PROBLEMS AT THE BACK FOR SOUTHGATE
From being well and truly stacked in the right-back department to having very little competition, depth and quality at the heart of the defence, that’s the position that worries England fans the most.
Someone like Harry Maguire, whether you like or loathe him, has been a key part of Southgate’s set-up over the years, but he is now warming the bench at Old Trafford and he surely can’t be selected.
John Stones, another senior figure, started and scored for Manchester City during their comeback win against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday, but he hasn’t exactly been playing regularly either.
Marc Guehi has made a steady start to the season in Crystal Palace colours, but nothing to shout about, whilst Conor Coady has been brilliant for Everton since his loan move to Goodison Park from Wolves in the summer.
Then there is another previous regular, Tyrone Mings, who was stripped of the Aston Villa captaincy by Steven Gerrard, whilst Fikayo Tomori continues to shine in Serie A with AC Milan.
Either way, there aren’t players jumping from the page, which makes picking Dier even more important.
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