Rio Ferdinand says Bukaya Saka should start at left-back if Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw are both ruled out of England’s Euro 2024 clash with Denmark.
Saka started on the right side of Gareth Southgate’s attack as England got their campaign of to a winning start against Serbia, with Jude Bellingham’s 13th-minute header proving decisive in Gelsenkirchen.
The result ensured England secured top spot in Group C but Southgate’s men were found wanting for much of Sunday’s cagey affair and it took an important late save from Jordan Pickford to ensure the Three Lions emerged with all three points.
Southgate entered the contest with a fully fit squad at his disposal but decided against risking Luke Shaw and instead opted for Trippier in the absence of the Manchester United full-back, who is working his way back from a hamstring injury.
With England already short of viable options at left-back, the sight of Trippier struggling with a problem will have had Southgate sweating on the touchline at the Veltins Arena.
In his post-match press conference, Southgate allayed fears over Trippier’s fitness and suggested the Newcastle defender was merely suffering with cramp.
However, ex-England and Manchester United defender Ferdinand hopes Southgate has a contingency plan in place and believes Saka should be given the nod at left-back should Trippier and Shaw be unable to feature on Thursday.
Asked whether England are in trouble if Trippier is ruled out against Denmark, Ferdinand told the FIVE YouTube channel: ‘Yeah, if Shaw’s not fit then 100 per cent, we’re bang in trouble.
‘We would have to put Saka at left-back. I’d play Saka at left-back then I would.
‘If you ain’t got Shaw and you ain’t got Trippier then I would play Saka at left-back.
‘I’d play it where as soon as we get possession you’re [Saka] a left winger.’
Ferdinand was impressed with Saka’s performance against Serbia but felt England struggled when put under pressure in an unconvincing second-half display.
‘Did you see how many times he stood up the full-back and destroyed him, like skinned him?’ Ferdinand added.
‘I thought Saka was really good. First 45, the wing-play he showed… you know what I liked about it? He mixed it up. He didn’t always come inside. He went on the outside a couple of times.
‘The defender didn’t know which way he was going to go but second half, when they put pressure on us, that was the problem. We didn’t respond well to that.’
Saka has experience of playing at left-back after being forced to provide cover at Arsenal in the absence of Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac in the 2020/21 campaign.
‘It’s not my natural position but he’s given me all the advice I need,’ Saka said at the time.
‘I learned a lot about how wingers in the Premier League play against defenders and how to position myself because in his system it’s different. I get to play much higher because the winger comes inside and I get to go.
‘There’s a lot of space for me and it’s good for me. I’m playing sort of as a winger when we have the ball but without the ball, I have to come back and work on my clearances, my heading and stuff I haven’t worked on my whole life. I feel like I’m doing ok right now.’
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