September 6th 2024.
Bukayo Saka has been a prominent figure in the England team, thanks to his impressive performance for Arsenal. However, it looks like he may have some competition for his spot from Chelsea's Noni Madueke, according to former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara.
Madueke had a bit of a bumpy ride last season with Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino, but he has been on fire for them this season under Enzo Maresca. The 22-year-old has already scored four goals in various competitions, including a hat-trick against Wolves in the Premier League. This has earned him a spot in Lee Carsley's first England squad.
O'Hara is eager to see how Madueke will perform in the national team, and he believes he has the potential to displace Saka in the starting lineup. Despite Saka's consistent presence in the Three Lions team in recent years, O'Hara thinks Madueke has what it takes to challenge him for a spot.
"I'm really looking forward to England's upcoming games, especially to see how Lee Carsley sets up his team," O'Hara shared with Grosvenor Sport. "I'm particularly excited to watch Noni Madueke play for the senior side. He's really upped his game this season, and I love his direct style of play. He always wants the ball and makes things happen. I believe Madueke could be a real game-changer for England, and I won't be surprised if he gives Saka a run for his money for a starting position."
Madueke is hoping to make his England debut this Saturday against Republic of Ireland. O'Hara also mentioned other newcomers to the England squad, such as Angel Gomes and Tino Livramento, who he is eager to see perform.
"I haven't seen much of Angel Gomes, so it'll be interesting to see how he does," O'Hara added. "And Tino Livramento has been fantastic for Newcastle this season, pushing Kyle Walker out of the team, who has been a mainstay for the past decade."
As for Carsley's first stint as England's interim boss, he will lead the team in their matches against Ireland on Saturday and Finland on Tuesday. O'Hara, however, is not convinced that Carsley is the right man for the job and believes England should aim for a more experienced manager.
"As curious as I am to see what Carsley has in store, I believe England should go for a bigger name in management," O'Hara stated. "Someone like Eddie Howe, who I think the FA should seriously consider luring away from Newcastle. Or even Graham Potter, who has proven himself at the highest level."
He added, "I understand Carsley has done well with the under-21s, but I think we should aim for the top tier of managers. This appointment feels like a step back, and frankly, a bit dull. England has an incredible squad, perhaps the best in international football. I think we should go all out and try to get a manager who matches that level, someone like Pep Guardiola. Why not?"
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