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England lack a player who can get us playing and he is very good at that. He will be better suited to international football actually rather than club football”- Former England coach Gary Neville has pointed out a Leicester City player he believes has the potential to thrive at the international level, indicating that he could be in line for a return to the England squad.
Former England coach Gary Neville believes the Three Lions could greatly benefit from a midfielder like Harry Winks of Leicester City, who has the ability to control the game from deep.
According to Neville, Winks, who has 10 caps and one goal for England but hasn’t played since 2020, has the potential to earn a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad. The 28-year-old made a £10 million move from Tottenham to Leicester in the summer of 2023, and his decision to drop down a division has proven successful.
Winks played a crucial role in helping Leicester secure promotion back to the Premier League, contributing significantly as they won the Championship title under Enzo Maresca. This season, he has remained a key player for Steve Cooper and caught Neville’s attention during a recent match.
Despite Leicester’s 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest, Winks was pivotal in a well-crafted play that led to Jamie Vardy’s goal. He initiated the move from midfield, exchanging passes before delivering a perfect cross for Vardy to equalize.
After the match, Neville praised Winks’ performance. “He was absolutely outstanding—this reflected his first half,” he said on Sky Sports, highlighting Winks’ role in the goal. “He’s a player who can operate at the international level. England needs someone who can help us play better, and Winks excels at that. He may be more suited to international football than club football.”
Neville did point out some areas for improvement, noting that Winks needed to do more to prevent Chris Wood from scoring twice. “He was excellent in the first half, but in the second, he needed to continue dominating the game—something the best players in his position do. He was less effective after halftime, which shifted the game’s momentum.”
Winks’ abilities have long been recognized. Mauricio Pochettino praised him in 2017, calling him the “perfect midfielder” capable of playing both box-to-box and as a holding midfielder. Gareth Southgate echoed these sentiments after Winks’ England debut in 2017, expressing pride in his maturity and ability to find forward passes.
