Stan Collymore says Michail Antonio should start for England, suggests he could play as number 10

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The West Ham winger/right-back was handed his first senior call-up by new Three Lions boss Sam Allardyce.

Stan Collymore has written in his column in the Mirror that Michail Antonio should be handed a start for England against Slovakia on Sunday, and has suggested that he has the attributes to play as a number 10 off the main striker as well as down the right.

Antonio was handed a maiden senior call-up to the Three Lions set-up in Sam Allardyce’s first squad as boss ahead of the first 2018 World Cup qualifier this weekend.

The 26-year-old was something of a surprise inclusion but many have argued that he deserves his place in the squad for his impressive form over the last 12 months, as well as his versatility.

The former Nottingham Forest man impressed hugely in his first Hammers season last term, scoring nine times in 31 appearances mainly from the right wing.

He has two goals from his first three league appearances this season too, despite having been frequently used as a makeshift right-back by Slaven Bilic.

Collymore believes he has earned the chance to start for his country, and though debate rages about whether he should be played in defence or midfield, the former striker has a more radical idea about where he could be utilised.

Collymore wrote in his Mirror column: “Michail Antonio’s England call-up has delighted me. He’s an incredible physical specimen, with loads of pace and ability. Also, he seems very humble.

“I wonder if, with a little tactical jiggery-pokery from new Three Lions boss Sam Allardyce, he couldn’t at some stage start playing off the frontman as a No.10 as well as operating down the right-hand side.

“Antonio has the trickery and physicality defenders hate. If I were Big Sam, I’d throw him straight into the team against Slovakia on Sunday and see how he gets on down the right, because it has been something of a problem position of late.”

Collymore’s suggestion of playing Antonio in a central attacking position will likely raise eyebrows, but the player himself will certainly feel he is deserving of a chance at international level, in whatever position that may be.