CITY HEROES IN THE MOOD
Gareth’s glad of Etihad demands
GARETH SOUTHGATE can always count on Manchester City stars to be at their peak for England – because of the intense demands at their club. Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and John Stones make up Southgate’s City contingent for friendlies against Switzerland on Saturday and Ivory Coast the following Tuesday.
And the Three Lions boss believes one of the great things about picking Pep Guardiola’s players is they are guaranteed to arrive primed and in the mood to deliver.
Even if not starting at the Etihad every week, Sterling and Co can be relied upon – mentally and physically – at international level.
Southgate, who revealed that rested City right-back Kyle Walker will be back in June, said: “It’s the competition for places every time they play.
“Every training session they have, they don’t even want to be in a team that concedes a goal, never mind that loses a game.
“They know the standards that are there.you can quickly lose your place in the team.
“When they come to work with us, they bring with them those habits, that expectation that’s at City every day.”
Of course, Guardiola loves to tweak his pack most weeks – especially in midfield and attack.
Right now Sterling, with one start in the previous four games before today’s FA Cup trip to Southampton, appears the odd one out among City’s England posse.
Yet not long ago it was £100million Grealish spending time on the bench.
Southgate, though, reckons the overall game and defensive discipline of the formervilla skipper is improving the longer he works under Guardiola.
That was evident in Treblechasing City’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace last Monday, according to the national team coach. Southgate added: “I guess that’s one of the things Jack will have been adapting to. He was definitely competing off the ball on Monday.
“He’s now in a team that know if they drop any point it can be critical.when players are in those big matches all the time, it’s a positive for England.
“You know they’re going to perform in really big matches.” Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed Aaron Ramsdale will not be fit enough to play for England in the international break due to a hip injury.
The 23-year-old was absent from Arsenal’s squad to face Aston Villa yesterday and faces a spell on the sidelines.
Before the game, Arteta said: “He’s got an injury, he had an injury in his oblique muscle and he will be out for a few weeks,” and afterwards confirmed “Aaron won’t be able to play for England”.
Trent Alexanderarnold and Reece James had already been ruled out.