Rodgers correct to talk Flanagan up as likely England right-back
Published:With the small matter of a World Cup bubbling in the background of this enthralling Premier League season, there’s always room for a few fresh names to enter into the reckoning for a shock inclusion on England’s plane.
Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson has already felt compelled to hand debut caps to the Southampton trio of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez, as reward for stand-out performances in the top-flight this season.
The three ‘Saintly’ amigos are currently priced up at 6/5, 4/6 and 11/2 respectively to be aboard the aircraft when the 23-man squad leave for Brazil this summer.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s choice for Premier League Player of the Month for January, Adam Johnson at 4/1, is the latest name to be bandied about.
However, despite making nine Premier League appearances for Liverpool this season, 21-year-old Jon Flanagan has gone so far under the radar he’s yet to be allotted a price to make the squad.
Including giving two towering performances in separate Merseyside derbies, scoring against Tottenham and most recently marking an in-form Santi Cazorla out of the game in the Reds’ 5-1 win over Arsenal, ‘Flanno’ hasn’t put a foot wrong.
“Jon has that potential,” Rodgers said. “He has all the qualities to play in that position for England.
“Obviously Glen is in there and (Tottenham’s) Kyle Walker as well, but Roy will know as well as anyone the pressures of playing and managing a club like Liverpool.
“For a young player like Jon to be producing the performances he has done takes some doing. “
Judging by Johnson’s price of 1/14 and Walker’s odds of 1/12 to make the squad, the Liverpool youngster has his work cut out, but he has shown all the necessary attributes to be a top full-back.
Flanagan is not only tenacious in the tackle and full of energy, but he’s displayed great composure and maturity on the ball as well.
Against Arsenal in particular the crispness of his passing stood out and sooner rather than later Hodgson will have to take note.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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