Rio Ferdinand is unhappy at the treatment of Chelsea defender Levi Colwill by England manager Gareth Southgate this week.
The Manchester United legend says it’s ‘unbelievable’ that a player like Harry Maguire can earn starts for England without playing at club level, yet Levi Colwill is left on the bench, as he told Vibe with Five.
England recorded a 1-1 draw against Ukraine on Saturday for their Euro 2024 qualifier, with Maguire starting at the heart of the defence alongside Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, yet Chelsea’s rising young gun was left on the bench.
Only a few months ago, Colwill played a huge part in the England U21s winning the European Championships, not forgetting how well he performed on-loan at Brighton last season, after they secured Europe for the first time in their history.
In the meantime, Maguire still hasn’t started a game for Manchester United, with only one appearance from the bench this term.
Yet, he finds himself in the England squad and starting, all of which doesn’t sit well with Ferdinand because he wants Colwill playing, as he put himself in the same position as the £100k-a-week star (90Min).
Levi Colwill and Harry Maguire
“Maguire hasn’t played and he is probably sitting there thinking ‘Thank God, Gareth Southgate is manager because no-one else would play me like this’,” said Ferdinand.
“For the other players, they must be sitting there thinking ‘wow, that’s unbelievable’. Somebody who doesn’t play a minute of football. Doesn’t start a game for his club can come in and wear the England badge.
“You have Levi Colwill coming through. A young player. I was that young guy once. If there are people in my way, who aren’t playing in front of me, I am thinking ‘he doesn’t rate me’ – I can’t get my head around how you say ‘Oh, we are lacking a bit of experience, then I am going to play him’.”
Colwill deserves his chance
If you aren’t going to give players like Colwill a chance in the qualifiers, then when are they ever going to earn that experience?
As of this moment, John Stones is injured. No-one argues that he starts for England when he is fit. But what if he isn’t next summer and there are issues at the back?
It would be pretty unfair if, with very few minutes under his belt on the international stage, the likes of Colwill then just get thrown straight into the deep end.
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