Gareth Southgate has some tough decisions to make as he narrows down his England squad ahead of the World Cup, with Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier one of the players who could retake his claim.
Southgate is set to name his provisional squad for the tournament on Wednesday 19th October, which is 33 days before kick-off in Qatar. With the final 26-man squad needing to be submitted to FIFA by Sunday 13th November, there is still time to earn - and lose - those seats on the plane, with some huge talking points across the board during the international break.
Dier had become a figure of ridicule for some after a near two-year hiatus from the international scene, but his recall for the Nations League fixtures against Germany and Italy represents a sharp change in the narrative. Southgate’s defence is a crowded affair, but for those who took note of Dier's imperious performances under Antonio Conte in the middle of Spurs’ back three, the latest call-up is more than deserved.
Barring three absences through injury, Dier played nearly every minute of Spurs' 2021/22 Premier League season, helping to pinch Champions League football from Arsenal. This season, he has played every minute of Premier League and Champions League football so far. Dier admitted that after the recent 6-2 win over Leicester that a World Cup squad role felt implausible had a call-up not arrived for the September international break, and thanked Antonio Conte - who he dubbed "the godfather" of Spurs' current system - for getting him back on track.
Elsewhere Harry Kane is as close to a guarantee on the plane as a player can get, while goalkeeper Fraser Forster’s chances of a World Cup call look unlikely given the queue of goalkeepers ahead of him.
So should Southgate select Dier for the World Cup? Pick your 26 in our England squad selector below.
If the form is not loading, CLICK HERE.
Once you have selected your squad, join the debate and tell us about your choices in the comments section below.
READ NEXT:
Perisic impact, calm Bentancur, Son struggle - Spurs players and Conte rated for season so far
Aouar, Modric - Huge free transfers Fabio Paratici can make to improve Tottenham's midfield
Antonio Conte's contract situation with Tottenham explained and how it affects Juventus links
Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho becomes a music pop star on new Stormzy track
Antonio Conte's contract situation with Tottenham explained and how it affects Juventus links
