Southgate still looking to solve his big midfield conundrum

THERE were plenty of positives for Gareth Southgate from Monday's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but you wonder if he is any closer to solving his biggest dilemmathe identity of England's third midfielder.

- Dan Kilpatrick

Conor Gallagher and Trent Alexander-Arnold - the two most experienced contenders to partner Declan Rice at the European Championship-completed 90 minutes at St James' Park, though the latter played the final half-hour at rightback, scoring England's second goal.

Southgate felt Gallagher played with "real maturity" and was "very pleased" with Alexander-Arnold, but enough doubts linger about each to suggest the manager could yet go with a different option in England's opening game, against Serbia on June 16.

Gallagher was combative and industrious, but he is occasionally wasteful in possession, while Alexander-Arnold is still learning to play centrally and his raking switches of play were often wasted with the right-footed Kieran Trippier at left-back.

"That is the unknown," said Southgate, when asked if the Liverpool full-back could start a tournament game in midfield.

Perhaps one of Monday's biggest winners, therefore, was Adam Wharton. The 20-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder came off the bench for the final 30 minutes and did not look out of place in a composed debut at the base of midfield.

"[I'm] really pleased with what he has done," said Southgate. "He is a very calm boy, he seems to have taken everything in his stride. When you talk to him, he is just pretty unflappable, as he was on the pitch.