Stats – Can Villa star Delph step up and replace Henderson against Switzerland?

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Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph has been tipped to replace Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson for England against Switzerland.

Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph has been tipped to step into the England side in place of Jordan Henderson.

The Liverpool midfielder has picked up an ankle injury in training, with early reports suggesting Roy Hodgson is unlikely to risk him as England’s European qualifying campaign gets under way.

Villa fans will rightly suggest that it’s a long deserved chance for the 24-year-old to start in England’s midfield after featuring against Norway and the stats suggest he could do a job in the middle of the team.

Henderson does more leg work in terms of defensive play and trying to break up the flow of possession for the opposition but Delph isn’t too far behind in terms of won tackles this season.

However, a stat which counters that is one which shows Delph has given away fewer fouls this season, which means the opposition don’t get too many breaks against him when they play against Aston Villa.

Delph is also behind Henderson in the Premier League in terms of interceptions, which suggests the Liverpool man is reading the play more effectively this season.

An explanation could be that Henderson has more of a free license in Liverpool’s midfield, with Steven Gerrard creating a fixed and consistent point in the middle of the team.

There’s very little to choose between the pair in terms of passing stats, with Henderson only marginally ahead in terms of accurate passes this season.

Delph protects possession well and one of the ways England will get an edge over Switzerland later on is by protecting possession effectively.

One area Delph is clearly ahead this season is in terms of picking the ball up and dribbling effectively at the opposition.

England’s performance against Norway, and the performances at the World Cup, cried out for a young and hungry player with no fear to grab the team by the scruff of the neck.

It’s important to remember that Henderson is a very dynamic and active player and while he may be ahead in several areas of key stats, Delph can definitely do a job in the middle of England’s team this evening.