Bukayo Saka does not believe that moving him from right wing to left-back will help solve England’s problems.
Saka started all three of the Three Lions’ group games in Germany and registered an assist for Jude Bellingham in the opening 1-0 victory against Serbia.
The winger found the net himself in Tuesday’s drab 0-0 draw with Slovenia but the effort was disallowed after Phil Foden had strayed offside in the build-up.
Gareth Southgate’s side have underwhelmed despite reaching the last-16 as Group C winners and the clamour for Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer to start reached fever pitch after his impressive cameo during the last 20 minutes in Cologne.
The calls for Palmer to start have led to suggestions that Southgate could try playing Saka at left-back, a position he played in his younger years at Arsenal.
Bukayo Saka has made it clear that he does not want to play at left-back for England
Saka accepts that it is Gareth Southgate’s decision but hopes to continue on the wing
The likes of Gary Neville and Ian Wright are among those to have come out this week and support this idea.
However, it is clearly not an idea that Saka himself is particularly keen on.
Saka has told BBC 5 Live that ‘putting me out of position’ at left back is not the solution for England.
The Arsenal star went on to acknowledge that ‘it’s in Gareth’s hands and we all have to trust what he selects on the day’.
Speaking after Tuesday’s draw with Slovenia, Arsenal legend Wright said: ‘as great as Saka has done for England in terms of what he creates and his goals and assists, he is a natural left-sided player.
‘He started playing for England on the left at youth level, he started at Arsenal on the left. If that’s going to give you the balance and gets you Cole Palmer in the team, it’s something you have to at least look at.
‘Yes, Kyle Walker can play there [at left-back], it’s the same situation where you have the player coming inside, you have no one going around. He’s a natural left-footer Saka, we could activate the whole left side.’
