Middle England Dilemma Is A Step Into The Unknown

There have been 77 England matches since Trent Alexander Arnold debuted in 2018. If he had played in them all, he would be level on caps already with Terry Butcher, wedged between John Terry and Tom Finney.

- RICHARD JOLLY

Instead, he has 24 international appearances to his name, the same as Bert Williams and Paul Madeley. He has fewer caps in the Gareth Southgate era than Jesse Lingard, barely half as many as Kieran Trippier.

A player who has been labelled the best right-back in the world has sometimes only seemed Southgate’s fourth choice. And yet, the England manager has long insisted he is an admirer of Alexander-Arnold’s talent. An attempt to reinvent him as a midfielder – first criticised by Jurgen Klopp, then adopted – may have been a consequence of his preference for Kyle Walker and Trippier’s defensive qualities but is a bid to unleash a creator.

It is, though, something of a voyage into uncharted territory for Southgate and Alexander-Arnold alike. The Merseysider missed the March friendlies against Brazil and Belgium with injury – Southgate’s selectorial choices are not the only reason why he has so few caps – and when he scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, it was with a volley that displayed his technical expertise. But only after beginning in midfield and later reverting to right-back.