Bukayo Saka is expected to start at left wing-back for England against Switzerland (Picture: Getty)
Ian Wright has criticised Gareth Southgate’s ‘crazy’ decision not to take adequate cover for Luke Shaw to Euro 2024, with Bukayo Saka in line to start at left wing-back for England’s quarter-final clash with Switzerland this evening.
Southgate took a gamble on Shaw’s fitness and named the full-back in his 26-man squad for Germany, despite the Manchester United star missing the second half of the season with a muscle injury.
It had been hoped that Shaw could return to full fitness in time for England’s knockout games and while the 28-year-old has been pictured in training with the rest of the squad, he is not deemed ready for a starting role in Dusseldorf.
Kieran Trippier has filled in at left-back in Shaw’s absence and the Three Lions have been noticeably lacking in pace and creativity down that flank, with Southgate’s men facing heavy criticism for their underwhelming performances at the tournament.
But with Marc Guehi forced to sit out the quarter-final through suspension, Southgate is expected to switch up his formation and field a back-three versus Switzerland, which will see Arsenal’s Saka start at left wing-back – something Wright had previously raised as a potential solution.
‘It would be a shame,’ the legendary ex-Arsenal striker said on the latest episode of The Overlap.
‘I mentioned it previously because our manager… it’s so thick not too bring a back-up to Luke Shaw and it [Saka at left wing-back] was something that I mentioned as a solution.’
Manchester United left-back Shaw is yet to feature in Germany (Picture: Getty)
Wright took a fair amount of stick from Arsenal supporters for suggesting that Saka could play at left wing-back earlier in the tournament, which the former England international is ‘not bothered’ about.
‘I’m not bothered about what they’re saying! The fact is that I put a question to everybody about now we haven’t got a left-back, we’ve got someone who has played there, so you ask the question,’ he added.
‘People can do that [criticise], I’m not bothered about that. I’m more talking about getting that left side going.
‘So if it’s Luke Shaw and he can do it then that’s fine. If Gareth now says he’s going to play Saka there then hopefully that will get in going.’
Wright believes Southgate left himself short by failing to include suitable cover for Shaw in his sqyad (Picture: Getty)
Wright is confident Saka will be ‘okay’ playing out of position against Switzerland, though believes it is ‘crazy’ that Southgate has put himself in such a difficult position by failing to bring adequate cover to Germany.
‘He’ll be okay! In the end, he ended up at right wing-back as well at one stage,’ Wright continued.
‘But what I am more concerned about is the fact that our manager didn’t bring a back-up which is just crazy and so that’s why that might have to happen.
‘I’m just pleased that something might change because something has to change.
‘We’ve got to where we are and I’m really happy about it, I’m not going to be down on the guys. We’ve shown that we’ve got players that can pull it out the fire.’
While Wright is wary of the threat posed by a dangerous Switzerland team, he expects England to come through the test and book their place in the semi-finals of the tournament.
‘You know something? I was going to say 3-2 to us because I think they will score a couple,’ he predicted.
‘I believe Phil [Foden] and Saka and [Jude] Bellingham… I believe that this is the time and this is where we can cause them problems.
‘I think it’s going to be harum-scarem. I’ll go 2-1 because that’ll be just as exciting.’
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