West Ham United: Max Rushden speculates England recall for Aaron Cresswell as ‘concern’ emerges
West Ham United ace Aaron Cresswell could theoretically make a return to the England squad amid a left-back crisis.
That is according to talkSPORT duo Max Rushden and Stuart Pearce, with the former putting Cresswell’s name forward ahead of Euro 2024.
The latter meanwhile suggested that Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate may need a natural left-footer in the role this summer.
“Left-back is a concern at the moment,” Rushden said on talkSPORT, adding: “Would you look at it and say ‘we have to have a left-footed player there, like almost go down a quality level and take a left-footed left-back if Luke Shaw isn’t fit, maybe if Chilwell isn’t either.’
“I’m trying to pick one, and don’t yell at me, I’m just saying, Aaron Cresswell is left-footed. There might be a million more I haven’t thought of. Would you go down a level to have a left-footer there?”
Pearce replied: “In all honesty, if you’d have asked me the question two years ago I’d have said it’s not that important.
“But the more I look at it, the more the answer to your question is 100%, you need a natural left-footer that doesn’t want to check out on his right foot, otherwise you just go up blind alleys a little bit attacking wise. So I think yes, a natural left-footer without a doubt, even if you’ve got to drop down in quality.”
West Ham man Aaron Cresswell very unlikely to receive England recall
England are certainly blessed with a lot of options in every area of the pitch, with Southgate having plenty of difficult decisions to make over the coming months.
He will soon have to narrow his squad down for the upcoming major tournament, with a long list of players keen to impress the manager between now and then.
But one man who is very unlikely to make the cut is West Ham left-back Cresswell, who does have three England appearances to his name.
The injured Shaw was not named in the latest squad, but Chelsea’s Chilwell was, with the versatile Joe Gomez also making the cut.
The Liverpool ace has proven for his club that he can operate at left-back, with Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier – who is currently injured – having often occupied the position for England in recent times.
It remains to be seen what route Southgate goes down this summer, but a drop down to Cresswell doesn’t feel like an option he would consider.
In other West Ham news, Howard Webb and Michael Owen were in agreement over a “complicated” controversy in the recent clash with Aston Villa.
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