Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to provoke debate about his role for England.
Despite his talent, Alexander-Arnold has been a fringe player for England since making his debut in 2018.
That looks set to change this summer, with manager Gareth Southgate finally utilising the Liverpool academy graduate.
Alexander-Arnold looks set to play in midfield for England as they aim to make good on their tag as favourites for Euro 2024.
It’s about time that the Liverpool man was given a leading role in a major tournament. As Trent gears up for the Three Lions’ clash with Serbia on Sunday though, former England defender Danny Rose has made an interesting admission.
Danny Rose makes Trent Alexander-Arnold admission
Although Alexander-Arnold has been playing in midfield for England, his job at Liverpool is still mainly as a right-back.
There is a real chance that Arne Slot could change that next season and move Alexander-Arnold to a more permanent base in midfield.
A lot will depend on how Slot personally feels about Trent. Jurgen Klopp, for example, loved what the No.66 gave his team from full-back and saw no real need to change things completely.
Southgate meanwhile appears to have now gone the other way and wants Alexander-Arnold as a full-time midfielder.
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And according to Rose’s personal experience with the England manager, it had always been clear that this was likely to happen.
Speaking to Mirror Football, the former Tottenham Hotspur left-back said that from his time in the England set-up, he knows that Southgate simply did not fancy Alexander-Arnold in defence.
“With Trent, from when I was part of the set-up, it was probably a little bit evident that Gareth, I don’t want to say he didn’t trust him at right-back, but you know with Kyle [Walker] obviously being in such great form over the years, it’s obviously difficult for any right-back to get in, let alone Trent,” says Rose.
“But I think ideally if Trent was to get in this England team, I think his best shot would be in the midfield.”
Sam Allardyce warns people to ‘shut up’ about Alexander-Arnold
The answer to how Southgate truly sees Alexander-Arnold will be answered on Sunday. It feels likely that the 25-year-old will finally get his start in midfield.
That will not be pleasing for some supporters, who seem to have it in for Trent whether he’s playing in midfield or defence.
But former England manager Sam Allardyce has warned people to keep quiet about the Liverpool man.
“He can play full-back, he can play in midfield. People will say ‘he won’t be as effective as Bellingham, he won’t be as effective as Rice because he’s not a midfield player’. They don’t know. Keep your mouth shut, you don’t know,” Allardyce asserted.
In our opinion, the next few weeks will show that Trent is completely cut out to play in midfield for Liverpool.
We suspect the Scouser is about to answer any question marks over his abilities quite emphatically.