Gareth Southgate sees John Stones as future defensive midfield option

Posted Wednesday, June 14, 2017 by theguardian.com

England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, believes John Stones has the attributes to thrive as a holding midfielder.

John Stones is under consideration for a defensive midfield role as England explore their options in the build-up to the World Cup finals next summer, with Gareth Southgate seeking solutions for what he perceives to be a shortfall of talent in the position.

The England manager has experimented with Stones, long considered to be the best ball-playing centre-half at England’s disposal, in a midfield brief both at St George’s Park last week and, since Sunday, at the team’s temporary base in Croissy-sur-Seine. While the 23-year-old is still expected to start his 18th cap against France on Tuesday in a more familiar role in the middle of a back three, Southgate believes the Manchester City defender boasts the attributes to thrive as a holding midfielder at some stage.

"Well, I think he could do that [role],” said Southgate, who will begin for the first time with Tom Heaton in goal with Jack Butland to earn his first cap for 16 months in the second half.

"We had a look at that in training last week, in fact. I also think we want defenders who can bring the ball out and show composure. I think he could do either of those jobs. You’ve asked me if he’s an option there, and I think he is. He’s a player who’s very comfortable receiving possession, and has all the attributes and capabilities to play as a holding midfield player. He obviously hasn’t done that yet, really, so that’s a decision we have to make. But do I believe he can play that role? Absolutely.”

Stones was an unused substitute in the World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Saturday after injury restricted him to only 13 minutes of first-team football at City in the last six weeks of the campaign. He will start in a back three as Southgate switches system from that employed at Hampden Park.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to start in central midfield, alongside Eric Dier, though Stones could push up into the role at some stage during the match. The visitors will be captained by Harry Kane in a friendly for which video assistant referees – the Italians Marco Guida and Massimiliano Irrati – have been appointed to review major decisions.

There will be a debut for Kieran Trippier, as well as that first start for Heaton with Joe Hart, Southgate’s first-choice goalkeeper, having always been earmarked to be rested for the fixture. “Joe is the No1,” Southgate said. “But next season we don’t know who will be playing at which club, who will be in form. Tom has had an outstanding season and we’ve got to maintain the squad environment and make sure people feel involved. Equally, Jack is coming back off a long lay-off and was No2 before that. We think he could also challenge for the No1 slot moving forward. We want competition for places.”

Didier Deschamps’s hosts will also experiment with their selection, with a first start anticipated for Thomas Lemar and his Monaco team-mate Kylian Mbappé, employed up front alongside Olivier Giroud.

The likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Samuel Umtiti and the full-backs Benjamin Mendy and Djibril Sidibé are expected to start. Southgate expects a stern test from France’s talented young side. “But the key is we learn something from the game,” he said. “We don’t have many opportunities to try things, to try players, so we have to take these chances. We need flexibility as a team.”

The Oasis song Don’t Look Back in Anger will echo around the Stade de France before kick-off as those present, including the prime minister, Theresa May, unite to pay respect to the victims of recent terrorist atrocities in Manchester and London. Eight people were killed in the capital a little over a week ago while, last month, 22 died with many more injured when a suicide bomber targeted a pop concert at the Manchester Arena.

The home support will hold up red and white placards to form the flag of St George as the players emerge into the arena, with a minute’s silence to precede kick-off.

The tributes mirror those at Wembley in November 2015, just days after the terror attacks in Paris, when England supporters had sung *La Marseillaise* ahead of a friendly with France and the teams had entered with the locals parading a flag reading ’Libert√©, Egalit√©, Fraternit√©’. England’s preparations have been undertaken amid heavy security at the Stade Omnisports, on the outskirts of Paris, at the venue used as Russia’s training base for last summer’s European Championships.