March 26th 2024.
It's an exciting moment for Kobbie Mainoo as he makes his full debut for the England national team against Belgium. As the team prepares for the upcoming Euro 2024, there has been much discussion about the midfield lineup. One former Three Lions player, Danny Murphy, believes that defender John Stones should play alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in the center of the field.
Rice and Bellingham are already guaranteed starters for their country, but there is still debate about who should join them in the midfield. Some fans and experts have suggested a creative playmaker like Phil Foden or James Maddison, but manager Gareth Southgate seems to prefer a more conservative approach with a No.8 player linking the play between the two stars of Real Madrid and Arsenal.
So far, players like Jordan Henderson and Conor Gallagher have been tried in that position with mixed results. Even right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been considered for the role, but injuries have limited his playing time there. In the upcoming friendly against Belgium, Manchester United's young talent Kobbie Mainoo will start alongside captain Rice. Although he is a popular pick for the Euro 2024 squad, this will only be his second international cap.
However, Danny Murphy believes that the best option for England would be to move center-back John Stones into the midfield. In an interview with talkSPORT, he noted that Southgate seemed to have a specific plan in mind, mentioning all the possible players for the position except for Bellingham. Murphy suggests that Bellingham's athleticism, tenacity, and range of skills make him an ideal partner for Rice in the midfield, with Stones holding behind them.
Some may be surprised by this idea, as Stones is known for his defensive skills, but he has also played in midfield for Manchester City with great success. This was particularly evident last season as City won the treble. While Stones has played in a defensive midfield role for England before, it was back in 2017 and it's unlikely that Southgate will make such a drastic change to his backline, especially with center-back being one of the team's weaker areas.
Murphy also believes that Rice is perfect for the No.8 role, as he has shown in games where he played alongside Jorginho. With the Euro 2024 approaching, it will be interesting to see how Southgate decides to utilize his talented midfielders and whether or not he will take Murphy's suggestion into consideration. One thing is for sure, the competition for a spot in England's midfield will be fierce, and the final decision will come down to the manager's vision and strategy for the team.
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