Legendary former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has now told Gareth Southgate to dramatically alter how England use Bukayo Saka.
England have not yet been able to truly impress at Euro 2024.
Whilst the Three Lions have now secured passage to the knockout rounds of the competition as group winners, their performances in Germany so far have been poor.
Gareth Southgate’s side scraped a 1-0 win in their first game against Serbia, and since then have turned in extremely uninspiring displays in draws against Denmark and Slovenia.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has started all three of the nation’s games at Euro 2024 so far. However, like the rest of his teammates, he has struggled to produce his best.
There have been flashes of quality from the 22-year-old. Many Arsenal fans also believe that Saka has been one of England’s best performers at the tournament so far.
However, Southgate’s tactics do not coax the best out of Saka. He is all too often isolated on the right flank, and neither Jude Bellingham or Kyle Walker have proven themselves to be able to combine with the Hale End academy graduate effectively.
This is not the only position on the pitch that Southgate is having issues with. Ian Wright has now offered a solution that he believes may solve two problems at once.
Ian Wright tells Gareth Southgate to change position of Arsenal star Bukayo Saka
Whilst Saka is failing to really sparkle on the right wing, England are facing something of a crisis at left-back.
Luke Shaw is the only natural, out-and-out left back in the squad, and he has been injured since before the tournament began. Newcastle United ace Kieran Trippier has instead been deputising in the role, but he is a right-footer, used to playing on the opposite flank, and his limitations on the left are obvious.
Whenever the 33-year-old receives the ball in an advanced area, his instinct is always to cut inside onto his right foot as soon as possible. This means that England’s build up through him is very predictable, and he does not offer overlapping runs that stretch the pitch and create space for others.
Speaking on ITV (25/06/2024, 22:09), Ian Wright has now suggested that Saka be deployed at left-back instead. He said: “You know, I am starting to think now. I read a stat about Kieran Trippier being our second most player with touches and passes, and I am feeling how are we going to get Palmer into the team if that’s the case.
“If that’s the case, how naturally left-sided Saka is, maybe can you put Saka at left-back and put Palmer on the right wing? Simply because we need to get some balance and get some fluidity in the game.”
Should Saka play at left-back for England?
Whilst Saka played as a left-back for a brief period at the very start of his career, under the management of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal he has established himself as perhaps the best right-winger in the Premier League. He is certainly one of them. At his best, he is England’s best right-winger too.
Southgate must be focused on getting the best out of Saka, and shifting him to defence would not do that.