Gareth Southgate may not have a huge amount of options all over the pitch, but there is one position where he really does.
England interim manager Gareth Southgate
Over the years England have often had areas of the pitch with strength in depth.
Remember Paul Scholes being played on the left to accommodate a Steven Gerrard/Frank Lampard combo that did not work anyway? Or Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Ledley King and John Terry all vying for two centre-back slots?
How current manager Gareth Southgate would love to have players of that ilk now. Yet there is one position where the Three Lions boss has huge amounts of talent, although not one he would probably choose – left-back.
The rapid rise of Danny Rose and Tottenham Hotspur has quickly seen him elevated to first choice, yet with the 26-year-old injured for games with Germany and Lithuania, Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand was a capable deputy.
Oh and Luke Shaw also played against the Germans. Somewhat sidelined by Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, the 21-year-old is still considered one of the finest young English talents.
Spain’s Daniel Carvajal in action with England’s Danny Rose
Then there is Aaron Cresswell, the West Ham United star with just one cap but a strong case for more, and also Leighton Baines, seemingly out of the equation on the international scene but still an integral part of a successful Everton outfit.
Southgate may only be able to field one left-back, but what a list of options he has.
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