Joe Cole has admitted Gareth Southgate veered away from his selection principles by naming Harry Maguire in his England starting XI to face Italy.
Manchester United captain Maguire, 29, was deployed in a three-man defence as the Three Lions travelled to San Siro in the Nations League on Friday night. While it was no surprise to see the centre-back start in Milan, his place in the side has been called into question due to his lack of Premier League minutes this season.
Maguire has lost his place in the United starting XI - with Erik ten Hag preferring Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez - leading many to suspect his place in the England line-up could be up for grabs by the time the World Cup rolls around in under two months' time. Cole understands why Southgate has stood by his under-pressure defender, but confesses it is a "huge decision" to keep playing him.
