THE MISSING PIECE?

DIER’S performances have improved remarkably since Antonio Conte arrived at Tottenham last November. Here’s how Dier’s record compares to England’s other centre backs in that time:

DIER has 45 caps for England, scoring three goals, and played at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. But it is 22 months since he last played for the Three Lions, in a 4-0 win over Iceland at Wembley in November 2020.