World Cup 2018: England stars Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier are fighting for one spot, claims Gareth Southgate
Three Lions chief is planning to use one defensive midfielder - leaving the Liverpool and Tottenham aces to make their cases
JORDAN HENDERSON and Eric Dier face an England World Cup shootout.
Boss Gareth Southgate, whose side take on Costa Rica tonight, will use ONE defensive midfielder at the finals.
Asked whether it was between Henderson or Dier, he replied: “We have to look at that. I think we will only want to play with one pivot.
“It is a key decision, but that’s management isn’t it?
"You either select players, or you choose your system and pick the best people to fit into it.
“They’re the tough calls. I’d be amazed if they aren’t important figures for us during the tournament.
"But there is clearly the possibility they might not both play in every match.”
Henderson, given an extended break after Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat, will win his 39th cap tonight and will try to cement his position ahead of Tottenham’s Dier, who has played 26 times for his country.
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Insisting they are both versatile, Southgate added: “Henderson can play as a number eight and Dier can play as a centre-back.