Martin Keown has revealed he is concerned about the possibility of Liverpool midfielder and captain Jordan Henderson starting for England in the World Cup, explaining he would prefer Tottenham’s Eric Dier ahead of him in the starting XI.
The two Premier League midfielders are batting against each other to fill a slot in Gareth Southgate’s side ahead of their World Cup opener against Tunisia on Monday night.
Pundit Koewn has explained that he would give the nod to Dier to fill the deeper midfield role and suspects that Henderson could leave the England backline exposed to the counter attack.
“It looks like Jordan Henderson will start in midfield against Tunisia but if Gareth Southgate wants the best person to fit his system, he should go for Eric Dier,” Keown wrote in the Daily Mail.
“Either player will be the pivot, sitting at the base of the midfield.
“Henderson likes to get forward but if he does in this system, England could be left with just three players in defence.
“Dier is better suited to this role but his leg has been strapped up this week which may count against him.”
OPINION
Dier may be the more naturally suited to the number six role in the England side, but Reds captain Henderson has enjoyed a brilliant 2017/18 campaign for his club and was pivotal in helping them finish as runners-up in the Champions League. Henderson has proven on countless occasions that he can play a deep-lying playmaker role and trounces Dier when it comes to range of passing. England will expect to dominate possession when it comes to the opening games against Tunisia and Panama, which is why it’s surely a no-brainer that Henderson gets the nod. The Three Lions have the protection of back three and they are going to need the likes of Henderson to try break down what will surely be stubborn defences. Tunisia were only narrowly defeated 1-0 by Spain in a recent friendly and Southgate is going to need his more creative players to play the key passes.
