Eric Dier’s England exclusion undermines Gareth Southgate's form over reputation claims

Let’s be frank. Since Antonio Conte arrived in North London, Eric Dier has made the Tottenham Hotspur backline his kingdom.

To call the 28-year-old England international’s recent form a renaissance risks, on the surface, venturing into hyperbole territory, but when considering the bare-faced numbers from Dier’s season at the heart of Spurs’ back three, the hyperbole warrants itself.

Since Conte’s first match in November, Dier played every minute from 25 of 28 Premier League matches available to him. In those 2,250 minutes, Spurs lost only four games while conceding 17 goals, the third least conceded in that time behind only eventual winners Manchester City and runners-up Liverpool.