Exclusive: Gareth Southgate has 'magnificent' Aston Villa player on standby for England v Slovakia start
It's proving a real headache for Southgate ????
England have secured themselves their spot in the last 16 of this summer’s European Championship where they will face Slovakia on Sunday.
Gareth Southgate’s side have come under some serious scrutiny despite topping their group with the performances leaving a lot to be desired.
Injuries are a real concern in certain areas of the pitch with the Three Lions’ defence taking a real beating in the lead up to the tournament.
Fill in left-back Kieran Trippier is standing in for Manchester United‘s Luke Shaw but the Newcastle United defender is enduring his own struggles.
TBR Football sources confirm that Ezri Konsa is on standby to replace Trippier for England this weekend.
Ezri Konsa on standby for England start
Options at left-back are being tested for England this summer with Southgate’s only out and out left-back being the Manchester United defender who has not been able to feature through injury.
Trippier is a major doubt to start against Slovakia and TBR has been told that Shaw is still not available.
However, instead of bringing Trent Alexander-Arnold in and possibly switching Kyle Walker to the left – Southgate has been using Konsa and Joe Gomez in training and sources have confirmed that Aston Villa star Konsa is the preferred option – if Tripper does not start.
Trippier has a calf problem and England won’t risk him if he is not fully fit.
Ezri Konsa yet to play at left-back
Southgate has been trying Konsa out on the left during England’s training sessions along with Liverpool‘s Gomez.
However, this is not a position which the “magnificent” Konsa has played in before.
The Villa defender has been played out on the right side of the defence before having racked up 55 appearances at right-back in his career.
However, the 26-year-old has played the rest of his career mainly at centre-back and in midfield on very rare occasions.
Southgate’s decision not to call-up a natural left-back aside from Shaw is now looking like a real error of judgement.
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