West Ham hero Craig Dawson should play for England – Ian Abrahams
West Ham have had a number of players step up when it’s mattered this season and one of those who has done so most often is defender Craig Dawson.
The 31-year-old arrive at the London Stadium last season on loan from Watford and the move raised a few eyebrows among Hammers fans.
Since then, however, he has produced some top-drawer displays that saw the temporary move become permanent and him become a fan favourite too.
talkSPORT presenter Ian “Moose” Abrahams has even suggested Dawson should be in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Qatar World Cup in November.
“If I’m Gareth Southgate, I don’t think England are blessed with centre-halves,” Abrahams said. “I’m taking Craig Dawson to Qatar.
“The man loves to defend; he throws himself in front of everything and he can score with his head too with the amount of important goals he gets for West Ham from free kicks and corners.
“He might not be able to play out from the back like your Rio Ferdinand’s or John Stones’ but sometimes you need experience.”
Ballon d’Orson
West Ham fans have never been happier to be wrong about a new signing at the London Stadium.
What Dawson has managed to achieve during his time with the Irons is remarkable considering he came in at first as a last resort to add another body to David Moyes’ squad.
You could probably make an argument for Dawson to be not only West Ham’s best defender of the season but maybe even the Premier League’s.
Southgate has to have taken note of his outstanding season and if he helps West Ham to Europa League glory, then you can’t see how he’d be left at home when the World Cup rolls around.
Moyes no longer needs to worry about bringing in another central defender to replace Dawson, rather find someone who can compliment him as his partner in crime at the back.
In other West Ham news, Trevor Sinclair revelled in the “incredible” night in Lyon last night as the Hammers advanced to the semi-finals.