GEM STONES
From dud to a diamond... City ace is gift for Gareth
JAMIE REDKNAPP believes that John Stones is the gift that can keep on giving for England this summer.
Sky pundit Redknapp has picked his England starting XI for the Euros and admits he does not envy Gareth Southgate, who has some “massive problems” with competition for places so fierce.
But former England midfielder Redknapp says Manchester City defender Stones’ resurgence and return to form is key to the whole set-up, as it has made the team more solid.
Redknapp said: “John Stones has been the gift that Gareth needed. He’s solved so many problems because he’s so calm on the ball.
“I’ve got so much respect for John Stones because, in football terms, he’s come back from the dead.
“He didn’t look to have a future at Manchester City, but now he looks one of the best defenders in Europe.
“Playing with Ruben Dias has helped him so much, John needs calmness alongside him and he’s gone back to basics, playing with someone like Dias who does the basics so well.
“Modern-day defending went through a phase of being all about what you did on the ball.
“But if you look at someone like Virgil van Dijk or Dias, they also know when to clear it.
“There can be no doubt that when City signed Dias they signed him to play with Aymeric
Laporte and yet John Stones has forced the issue.”
Redknapp played in Euro ’96 in the last home tournament.
Terry Venables used a back three as England reached the semi-finals. Southgate will be desperate to go one step further. The wing backs are key in the 3-4-3 system and Redknapp insists that Trent Alexander-arnold is world class.
But it could be Reece James who gets in ahead of him purely on form.
Jordan Henderson would also be a guaranteed starter but, again may struggle to be fit in time.
Redknapp said: “If you said a year ago Trent wouldn’t be in the squad, people would think you were mad.
“If Trent thinks he’s playing well, then he’s reading it wrong. But if he takes it the right way there should never be a scenario where he’s not in the squad.”
Southgate’s biggest decision according to Redknapp, is who plays alongside Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling.
Jack Grealish is a fans’ favourite and Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden give Southgate another dilemma.
Redknapp added: “I think Gareth will probably go with Rashford.
“Football fans want to see Jack Grealish. They want a Paul Gascoignetype, a player who can be a maverick, have a bit of flair, pick up the ball and run with it.
“Marcus has got credit in the bank and Phil Foden might not start the tournament but my guess is that he will finish it.”