Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon is waiting to find out whether he will start for England against Denmark on Thursday evening.
The 23-year-old was an unused substitute on Sunday, as the Three Lions started their Euro 2024 campaign with a win. They beat Serbia 1-0 thanks to Jude Bellingham’s header, but it was not a convincing performance by Gareth Southgate’s team.
One of the issues was Phil Foden, with the Manchester City star deployed on the left wing, despite being more influential centrally. All the while, Anthony Gordon watched on from the bench, much to the surprise of pundits such as Jamie Carragher.
England’s next game is at 5pm on Thursday, with a win ensuring that they advance to the knockout stages. Denmark will provide a different test, but it will certainly be a challenging game.
That is why Southgate may tinker with his starting XI, with his two big dilemmas being Trent Alexander-Arnold in the middle and Phil Foden out wide.
Alan Shearer makes Anthony Gordon suggestion
Alan Shearer has given his verdict on what Southgate might do, and has suggested that Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon could help provide the solution to both of those issues.
The Magpies’ all-time leading scorer has been speaking about England’s next game on The Rest Is Football podcast, and has suggested that Gordon could come into the side for Alexander-Arnold.
“What will he do next? I think he’ll make one or two changes,” he said.
“He might look at the Trent situation. He might put Bellingham back alongside Rice and play Foden in the 10 and maybe put Gordon out wide.”
Newcastle United winger could solve two England problems against Denmark
Bringing Gordon into the side could be the answer. That would allow Foden to play in his preferred position, while Rice would have a more natural partner in midfield in Bellingham.
That could allow Foden to be more influential, while it would also give England more pace and width. That is what Gordon will bring to the party, and he will be desperate to make his mark at the Euros after missing out on the first game.
It will be interesting to see whether or not Southgate does make that change. In truth, it would be surprising, as he seems to prefer playing Bellingham in that more advanced role. That would likely result in Foden being on the left again, as it would be rather bold of the England manager to leave out the Premier League Player of the Season.
Kieran Trippier looks likely to continue out of position
But one player who does look certain to start again for England is Kieran Trippier.
The 33-year-old was used at left-back against Serbia and produced a decent performance. Defensively he was sound, but it was in attack that he had issues. That is because he was playing out of position, and his attacking problems were compounded by having Foden in front of him.
The alternative to playing Trippier at left-back is Luke Shaw, but he has not played since February due to injury.
The Manchester United defender is in the squad and back in training, but Shearer has shared what happened against Serbia that suggests Shaw is still not ready to play.
“He sent three or four players to warm up when Trippier went down, but Shaw wasn’t one of those. That suggests that he’s not ready to start if he’s not even ready to play 15 or 20 minutes.
“Maybe the third game or the round of 16 [he will be ready].”
For now, it looks like Trippier will continue to be required at left-back, and it would be great to see him combine down that side with his Toon teammate Anthony Gordon against Denmark.
The post Alan Shearer predicts whether Anthony Gordon will start for England against Denmark on Thursday appeared first on Geordie Boot Boys.