Tuesday 23 June 2015 07:14, UK
Gareth Southgate and England belatedly welcome John Stones back to the team for Wednesday’s final group game against Italy at the European Under-21 Championship in the Czech Republic. The man in the Rio Ferdinand role could make a real difference, writes Adam Bate…
There was a moment in Gareth Southgate’s pre-tournament press conference when explaining the decision to leave Eric Dier at home that was particularly revealing. He referred to “the three other defenders” that he’d picked instead – namely Ben Gibson, Liam Moore and Michael Keane.
It was only after he corrected himself that the main man was included too. “I think we were all aware that John Stones coming down from the seniors was going to be in,” added the England coach.
Such is the reputation of the Everton defender. As a result, his loss for the opening two games after suffering concussion in a training ground incident with goalkeeper Jack Butland was a considerable blow.
England have defended with plenty of determination in the meantime – conceding only once – but the lack of assurance shown by his deputies in terms of bringing the ball out of defence has had a knock-on effect. It’s hampered the side’s ability to construct attacks as effectively as they’d like.
Stones has that calmness that can be so important at international level. So much so, in fact, that Southgate was even drawn into comparing the 21-year-old Yorkshireman to former national team captain Rio Ferdinand earlier this month.
“In terms of his comfort on the ball, Rio had that comfort on the ball, that ability to turn out and start again by stepping into midfield and using the ball effectively,” said Southgate, speaking at St George’s Park.
Regarding Stones, the Under-21 boss added: “He’s very exciting. He started at right-back for us and we moved him after a couple of games because we got an injury at centre-back. We thought straight away it was going to be his best position. Physically, he’s still filling out a bit. But he has great physical attributes.
"He’s got a good leap, he’s quick and he deals well with things one-on-one. He’s as composed as any young defender I’ve seen. He’s outstanding in that area.”
Stones himself might seem an unassuming type, but his recent claim that he is looking to fuse the best of Ferdinand and John Terry – “that mixture between smooth passing and tough defending is going to be a good recipe for my game,” he told FourFourTwo – hints at an ambitious young man. Curiously, Southgate has admitted that it’s the steely defensive work of Terry that can be trickier to instil in all of his talented young defenders.
He has great physical attributes. He’s got a good leap, he’s quick and he deals well with things one-on-one. He’s as composed as any young defender I’ve seen. He’s outstanding in that area.
“We’ve got defenders who can use the ball, but we’ve also got to have a desire to keep the ball out of the net,” added Southgate, a former defender with 57 England caps in a nine-year international career of his own.
“That’s a skill which at an academy level through clubs we’ve still got to encourage. Chelsea won the league because they’ve got four defenders who like keeping the ball out of the net.”
Of Stones, in particular, he said: “Like all of our young defenders, there’s still a bit of work to be done in terms of that understanding that keeping the ball out of the net is the No 1 priority. I suppose Rio went through similar processes in terms of learning to be a better, stronger defender. That’ll be the bit now that we’ll want to keep pushing.”
There is little reason to suppose that he won’t. The subsequent admission that Stones was in tears when it became clear that concussion protocols would prevent him from featuring in the team’s opening two games is further indication that this is a player entirely focused on his football.
Given that the defender already has four senior caps – more than any other player in Southgate’s squad – it’s a revealing insight into his dedication. He’s not one to regard this tournament as beneath him.
“Everything is there to be successful,” added Southgate when discussing this exemplary attitude. It’s perhaps indicative of his unique focus that Stones is the only member of the squad not on Twitter. “He’s got a stable background, a good family in support and he wants to be the best he can be. When we’re working at things, he’s always attentive and always looking back at his games to see what he could have done better and analysing things.”
Sitting on the sidelines, Stones has had plenty of time to study everything – even the big screen at the Ander Stadium displaying his face as their man of the match when testing their technology before the Sweden game. Now is the time for action. “He’s had a feel that there’s something bigger out there and this will be a stage he’ll look forward to,” said Southgate.
Belatedly, the Everton man will get his chance to show just how important he can be for his country this Wednesday evening against Italy.
