Harry Redknapp wanted Gareth Southgate to start Jack Grealish against Iran, revealing that Harry Kane once told him he loves playing with the Manchester City star.
England get their World Cup campaign underway with a clash against the Iranians and Gareth Southgate’s men will be looking to get three points on the board to ease the pressure on the team ahead of the matches against USA and Wales.
(Photo by Mike Hewitt – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Kane will lead the Three Lions side but there has been plenty of debate regarding who to start alongside the Tottenham man.
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka have been given the nod by Southgate for England’s opener this afternoon, but Redknapp believed Grealish should have been in the starting eleven.
The former Spurs manager revealed that Kane loves the balls that the City star plays into the pockets and called on the England boss to build the team around the 27-year-old.
Redknapp wrote in his column for The Sun: “I’ve said before if Jack Grealish played for any other country, they’d build the whole team around him.
“But when it comes to England he struggles to even get in, from the start at least. Let’s be honest, England begin their tournament against Iran and, with all due respect, they shouldn’t give us any trouble.
“So it is a chance to really get at them and show what fantastic attacking players we’ve got — which means Grealish must start for me.
“It is not just me who is a big fan of the Manchester City star either. I watched him against Chelsea in the League Cup this month and just wanted him to get the ball.
“And I remember speaking to Harry Kane and him telling me he loves to play with Jack because of those little balls he plays into the pockets around the box.
“It’s those 15-yard passes when he backs in, turns and gets a shot off.
“That works with Harry so much and Grealish is the perfect man to provide the service.
“I always loved to work on that with every team I’ve had and Jack just loves making an angle and getting that ball into his feet.
“It might not be the first England partnership that springs to mind but it’s one I could see causing problems for any side in the world. And it should certainly cause plenty for Iran.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I believe that Southgate will use Grealish as a super-sub off the bench at this World Cup as the City star can be quite deadly when he comes on for the final 20 and 30 minutes against tired legs. Kane and Sterling are nailed on to start every game and I believe the only question is who gets the nod between Foden and Saka each match.
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