Gareth’s best option is to go back to future

GARETH SOUTHGATE is ready to go back to the future in the Nations League double-header with Iceland and Denmark.

The England boss is set to deploy a three-man defence in at least one of the two next internationals as he has been left with a catalogue of selection dilemmas. Call-ups Conor Coady and Ainsley Maitland-Niles fit perfectly into that formation which served England well in the 2018 World Cup.

Wolves captain Coady has been impressive as part of a back three for his club while Arsenal’s Maitland-Niles has been terrific at left wing-back.

First-choice left-back Ben Chilwell is out injured and Danny Rose is out of favour, meaning there is no conventional left-back in the squad.

While that would normally set the alarm bells ringing, Southgate has had a back three in his mind for the past year and hinted he might go that way after back-to-back Euro 2020 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Kosovo last October. Eric Dier, Joe Gomez, Michael Keane, Tyrone Mings and Coady are all comfortable as part of a back three.

Southgate lacks experience in the engine room without Jordan Henderson. The six midfielders selected – Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, Phil Foden, James Ward-Prowse and Harry Winks – have just 21 caps between them.

He may as a result bolster his defence. Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold can produce width on the right but he could still use two wide attackers either side of Spurs striker Harry Kane.