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.
Esta historia es de la edición June 05, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 05, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Zhao goes trophy hunting after match-fixing ban ends
When the main stage of the UK Championship - still widely considered snooker's second-biggest event after the World Championship - kicks off in York this afternoon, there will be an amateur player taking to the baize.
Wales look set for a biblical bashing against Springboks
Many a frustrated writer in search of a metaphor has plucked from the passages of 1 Samuel in the past but this week, the tale of David and Goliath feels apt.
Amorim lays down law as United begin new chapter
Ruben Amorim was running through Manchester United's recent managerial history.
Shame on PM for ignoring.lawyers' £4bn tax loophole
While most major employers were gnashing their teeth at the increase in their national insurance in the Budget, one group was celebrating.
Ofgem raises price cap as millions lose fuel payments
The energy price cap will increase in January for a second consecutive time, raising bills by 1.2 per cent as millions of people lose access to winter fuel payments.
'My father knew he was a target from the start but stayed to defend his people'
As pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai faces a potential life sentence in the high-stakes national security case in Hong Kong, his son Sebastien Lai has denounced the proceedings as a politically motivated \"show trial\" driven by a China-led crackdown on dissent politically motivated “show trial” driven by a China-led crackdown on dissent.
Meet Trump's second pick for attorney general top job
The incoming Trump administration didn't waste any time on Thursday after Matt Gaetz said that he was dropping his bid to become attorney general.
Judge postpones Trump's 'hush money' sentencing
The judge overseeing Donald Trump's historic hush money trail has postponed his sentencing indefinitely as he considers arguments from the president-elect's legal team to close the case.
McGregor raped woman in hotel, civil court jury finds
A woman who accused Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel six years ago has won her claim against him for damages in a High Court civil case.
Cop29 $250bn climate fund.offer dismissed as insulting
Hopes of a trillion-dollar climate finance fund appear to be slipping out of reach after a draft text at the COP29 climate summit proposed a deal worth only a fifth of that.
