Rio Ferdinand sends message to Gareth Southgate over Bukayo Saka’s position for England

Bukayo Saka was asked to play as a makeshift left-back against Slovakia (Picture: Getty)

Rio Ferdinand has demanded that Gareth Southgate persists with his experiment of playing Bukayo Saka as an emergency left-back.

With Luke Shaw struggling to regain full fitness following an injury that has kept him out of action since February, the Three Lions manager has largely relied on Kieran Trippier to fill England’s problem position.

The Newcastle star’s propensity to cut in on his favoured right foot, however, has played a part in the lack of balance that has contributed to England’s lack of fluency and cohesiveness over the course of their Euro 2024 campaign thus far.

In a desperate attempt to salvage last night’s knockout tie against Slovakia, Saka was redeployed in the full-back position he started his career in to accommodate substitute Cole Palmer.

The Arsenal winger did his best in an unfamiliar role and though a tougher tests awaits against Switzerland in the quarter-finals, Ferdinand believes Southgate would be best served by continuing with Saka in a more defensive role.

He said: ‘Saka started left-back, I shouted it before the tournament. Put him left-back.

‘With Trippier playing left side, I love Trippier as a right-back, on the right side it effects the balance of the team. We don’t get overlaps.

Kieran Trippier’s form and fitness has been questioned during Euro 2024 (Picture: Getty)

‘One time went down the left-hand side, he cuts back on the right foot again and the momentum has gone from the move, we allow the other team to get back.

‘Saka as left footer runs down the wing and crosses the ball. I’d play Saka left-back, I would. He did for ages in the youth team as a kid growing up he’s comfortable at doing it.’

Despite being criticised for reducing the potential attacking output of one of England’s most creative players, Southgate, himself, believes Saka at left-back is something we could get used to seeing more of as the tournament progresses.

‘We felt that Bukayo at left-back gave us an extra attacking outlet,’ Southgate told BBC Radio Five Live.

‘It is a good option to have. I have to say the courage shown by the players was fantastic tonight.’

Meanwhile, Southgate hit back at the criticism of his substitutions after the victory over Slovakia, claiming that his decision to stick with Bellingham and Kane was justified and his substitutions throughout Euro 2024 so far ‘have had an impact’.

‘The two players who get the goals, you could arguably take off 15 minutes from the end because they looked out on their feet, but that is what they are capable of,’ ­Southgate said.

‘Harry and Jude, with 15 minutes to go you are ­looking and ­thinking, ‘should we be refreshing those positions?’, and maybe that’s the bit that makes the difference. But then you know they are capable of doing the sorts of things they did. That’s why you stick with those players.

‘So when people want changes, you’ve got to keep some balance to the team, you’ve got to make changes that you think are definitely going to improve what you’re doing, either physically or with a different sort of a problem.

‘I think actually pretty much all the changes we have made this tournament have had an impact, so that’s shown the value of our squad and the need of everyone to be ready.’

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