Eric Dier could be left out of the England team at the World Cup despite being part of a ‘five-strong leadership group’ for his country, according to the Guardian.
Gareth Southgate is a fan of Dier and has handed him the England captaincy in the past, although Harry Kane has been chosen as the Three Lions’ skipper for the World Cup finals.
But Dier faces of the prospect of missing out on a place in the starting line-up to Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson in Russia.
That’s according to the Guardian, who claim Southgate only wants to play one defensive midfielder in the tournament.
Dier started in last week’s 2-1 friendly victory over Nigeria at Wembley, but Henderson is expected to replace the Tottenham midfielder against Costa Rica on Thursday night.
The report reveals Dier is part of a leadership group in the England camp that also includes Kane, Henderson, Fabian Delph and Ashley Young.
However, those leadership qualities will not guarantee minutes for any of the players mentioned – Delph and Young are unlikely to start in the first group game against Tunisia.
