Following England’s continued frustrations at Euro 2024 against Slovenia on Tuesday, Gary Neville now has a plan for Bukayo Saka.
With both Saka and Declan Rice in their starting XI, England headed to Germany full of optimism, knowing they also had several other world class players in their ranks.
However, Gareth Southgate’s set-up isn’t working, and England have been incomprehensibly poor at times.
Of course, given England’s performances, almost every player in the starting XI has experienced some form of criticism, and Saka has been no exception.
Despite being at the heart of everything good England did against Serbia, there were even calls for Saka to be dropped before Tuesday’s kick off.
And given that Cole Palmer looked energetic and exciting when he came on for his first minutes of the Euros against Slovenia, some now believe he should start ahead of the Arsenal winger.
That being said, when speaking during ITV Football’s coverage of the match, Gary Neville had a different plan.
Gary Neville says it would be ‘brilliant’ to see Bukayo Saka at left-back for England
Instead of dropping Saka, Neville thought an exciting call would be to move Saka to left-back, a role he once played in the early days of Mikel Arteta’s time at Arsenal.
That being said, the pundit didn’t think Southgate would agree, or rather wouldn’t make such a decision right now.
Neville explained: “I think that it would be brilliant to see Bukayo Saka at left-back but I think Gareth Southgate won’t do that.
“What you may get him to do is put Kyle Walker as left-back and put Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right who is a brilliant user of the ball on the right hand side.
“Having Kieran Trippier and Walker on either side means we’re blocking a little bit both sides and I think having Trent on one side is the best we’re going to get.”
READ MORE: ‘Outstanding’ £51m player who Pep Guardiola rates has decided he’d like to join Arsenal
Arteta would never use Saka as a left-back again
Of course, Arsenal fans may be torn on the matter.
On one hand, Saka could do an excellent job at left-back, which has been akin to a left-wing role given how high Trippier has played up the pitch.
Saka is a strong one-versus-one defender, and certainly wouldn’t let England down in that regard.
But is it ever a wise decision for a country to move their best right-winger from the position?
The move would be a huge risk, one that could be a catalyst for England’s turnaround or simply add to the poor decisions that have been made in Germany.
It’s certainly not a move that Arteta would make again at Arsenal.
And with Joe Gomez on England’s bench, who thrived at left-back for Liverpool last season, his inclusion seems like a much more logical decision.
All that being said, Micah Richards has recently shared some advice for William Saliba at Euro 2024.