MATT LAWTON ON DANNY ROSE:
SUPPORT for Danny Rose even extendednded to the Royal Family yesterday but here at Elland Road last night the approval off Gareth Southgate was perhaps more important.
Of course, kind words s from the Duke of Cambridge - would have meant t an awful lot to Rose after r speaking so courageously y about ‘ If you his battle don’t with mind depression me se earlier this week. mentioning I think it’s really ly very good what you did,’ said d the Prince on a visit to see the he England squad ahead of this is summer’s World Cup. ‘Well ell done. You should be really ly pleased. Loads of support rt from me on that.’
A patron of a mental health th awareness campaign alongside Kate and Harry, William obviously thought it important to approach the England full back after he had given such a powerful interview to the national Press.
But come last night and Rose had to refocus on his football, and prove to England’s manager that he is indeed ready for that opening World Cup game with Tunisia on Monday week after a season seriously interrupted by injury.
Rose did say that after a difficult 18 months at Tottenham that England had been his salvation; St George’s Park his sanctuary. And at Elland Road he played like someone very much in his element, his spirits lifted not just by a vocal Yorkshire crowd but the chance to excel in this exciting young England side.
Southgate must have been delighted with his performance. He admired his honesty in that interview but, again, more crucial was how comfortable and composed he looked on the left side of England’s defence.
By his own admission Rose is fortunate to be on the plane to Russia. Ryan Bertrand, he said, had every right to feel angry when Rose has played so little football.
Rose, however, took his chance, more than vindicating Southgate’s decision to give the 27-year- old the No 3 shirt ahead of Ashley Young even after the Manchester United full back started against Nigeria at Wembley.
‘I thought Danny was incredibly brave and honest and he has the full support of the team,’ said Southgate afterwards. ‘I think he feels some relief to have spoken about it, but now he wants to move on and focus on his football.
‘That’s actually as well as I’ve seen him play in quite some time. His problem has been a lack of minutes this season, but the fact that he’s ready to play is brilliant for all of us.’
Watching Rose take the ball past an opponent before launching a decent ball in the direction of Jamie Vardy would have encouraged England’s manager. As would his obvious willingness to get on the ball as much as possible.
Marcus Rashford stole the show last night, and players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph and Trent Alexander-Arnold were also very impressive. But Rose was among England’s best players and for a Yorkshireman in front of a Yorkshire crowd that must have been particularly pleasurable.
Not least because his family would have been here to see it too. As we now know, Rose has asked them not to travel to Russia because of his concern that they will suffer racist abuse.
He has said that will be particularly tough on his father, Nigel, when he makes a point of watching his son whenever he plays for England. Indeed, he said he half expected Nigel to ignore his wishes and travel to the games in Russia without telling him.
Leeds, of course, is an awful lot closer to the family home in Doncaster and it must have been a proud moment to see their son playing here, however surprised they might have been by the interviews that appeared in yesterday’s newspapers. As Rose said, he feared they might have been angry to learn of his depression through the media.
That, and the fact that he had not told Southgate of his struggles either, was perhaps the most startling aspect of his interview.
Southgate did indeed seem delighted that Rose’s candour had been met by such a positive response and followed by an equally positive performance.
Things, it seems, are falling into place for England as they prepare to leave for Russia.
There were concerns at the end of the game that Kieran Trippier had suffered some kind of hamstring injury but Southgate reported that the medical staff were not concerned.
For England that is a relief given the Tottenham player’s ability with a dead ball.
Trippier delivers a decent cross too and Southgate clearly sees him and Rose as his best option on the flanks, even if he does have more than able deputies in Young and Alexander-Arnold.
Judging by his words last night, Rose is Southgate’s man.