Just like in 2021 and in 2018 before that, Gareth Southgate has a right-back issue he still doesn't have a clear answer to heading into a major tournament.
It's not like he hasn't had plenty of time to find a workable solution to having four quality right-backs at his disposal, more that there simply isn't a way to keep all of Kyle Walker, Keiran Trippier, Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold happy. At the 2018 World Cup, albeit with Alexander-Arnold and James not quite on the same level, he used Walker in a back three and Trippier on the right.
Last summer, for the re-arranged Euro 2020 tournament, he did the same, with James in reserve and Alexander-Arnold injured. Now all four are fit, and Southgate must decide on a hierarchy before Qatar 2022 with just two games remaining. To make that decision, he may look at how Pep Guardiola has developed Walker in the last 18 months at Manchester City.
