Marc Guehi has 11 England caps to his name ahead of Euro 2024 (Image: Getty)
Lewis Dunk has been tipped as the "natural" option to replace Harry Maguire for England against Serbia. The injury-hit Three Lions backline will be dealing with the physical presences of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic in their opening group game on Sunday.
In that respect, Maguire is a massive loss for Gareth Southgate - who was forced to leave him off the plane to Germany for Euro 2024 due to the muscle injury which sidelined him for the end of the season with Manchester United.
Marc Guehi is expected to be first-choice partner for John Stones. But speaking on Reach's new Euro Thrash podcast - which you can find on YouTube, Apple and Spotify - Danny Rose argued Dunk is the more logical deputy for the first task at hand.
The former England left-back said: “I think the natural one would probably be Lewis Dunk for me. When you are talking about physicality in terms of size and build to Maguire in the 2018 World Cup, set pieces were massive for England.
“Maguire scored when he was out there, so again I think Dunk fits that mould perfectly. Kyle [Walker] would be an option but if he's in any of my squads, he's nailed down to play right-back every day of the week for me.”
Dunk’s critics point to his lack of pace when the ball goes in behind him. Rose doesn’t envisage that being an issue against Serbia, highlighting their relative lack of speed and calling for Southgate to focus offensively.
Danny Rose would like to see Lewis Dunk partnering John Stones (Image: Getty)
“With respect to Mitrovic and Tadic, England have to realise that they are not going to run in behind, so I don't think there is any need to play with the three or five at the back,” he added.
“The two centre-backs or holding midfielder can take care of Mitrovic. For [Kieran] Trippier, just don't let Tadic come in on his left and then that is half of the problems solved for England.
“I wasn't keen on playing against defenders that could cut in, because once they get half a yard and when you have a left-foot like him, the ball goes into the box and as soon as it goes in, it's my fault. Tadic has a great left-foot and he is very strong.”
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Nubaid Haroon and Wes Brown will bring you all the Euros news on Euro Thrash (Image: Euro Thrash Podcast)
Wes Brown, who co-hosts Euro Thrash with Nubaid Haroon, agrees that Mitrovic is the threat that needs to be neutralised - whether that's by Dunk or someone else. "Mitrovic wants to fight," he declared.
"He's looking to disrupt you in a way, so that is where you need to look at the defence - and we don't know who is going to be there alongside Stones - and say we need someone who is big and strong and is going to win the headers. We don't want to be letting Mitrovic upset people. He has been doing it for years.
"He does it to everyone and it is nothing personal, that is how he played. We don't want him to start off the game where he is bullying people, winning headers and bringing it down and turning. That is one player where you think we have to get around that problem. Whether it is [Declan] Rice who comes in, gets in front of him, or with a defender there."
Watch and listen to Euro Thrash onYouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify with regular new episodes throughout Euro 2024
