Matt Doherty has urged Gareth Southgate to get Eric Dier into the England side, insisting that the Three Lions need the Tottenham man.
England got their World Cup campaign off to an excellent start, thrashing Iran 6-2 on Monday but they were unable to follow that up with a win over the USA on Friday.
Southgate’s men struggled to create too many clear-cut chances of note against the Americans and had to settle for a 0-0 draw, thus leaving them with work to do to qualify for the knockout stages heading into their final group game against Wales.
Dier got over 20 minutes under his belt after replacing Harry Maguire in the second half against Iran and the centre-back was an unused substitute in Friday’s game, with Southgate sticking with a partnership of Maguire and John Stones.
Doherty has now suggested that England could do with the 28-year-old’s passing ability at the back.
The right-back told Tottenham’s official website: “Come on Gareth, get Eric in! England need him spraying balls around from the back. His time is coming!”
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Spurs Web Opinion
For all the criticism Maguire has received, he has put in two solid performances so far. I do not see Southgate breaking up the Maguire-Stones partnership for the time being.
I do not think Dier is likely to get too many opportunities at this World Cup. Even if Southgate chooses to shift to a back three in the knockout stages, he will probably move Stones to the middle and play Kyle Walker at right centre-back.
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