One of England’s biggest selection dilemmas ahead of the World Cup has centred on the right wing.
Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke are contending for the spot, but the former’s fitness has been a concern after he played through an Achilles injury during Arsenal’s title run-in.
Thomas Tuchel had admitted Saka was unable to train on consecutive days, and reports claim the Arsenal man will be carefully managed during the tournament.
That has opened the door for Madueke, who is poised to be handed a golden opportunity to become a surprise star of the World Cup.
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But rather than choosing a starter between the two, Michael Owen thinks they should play a whole half each, every game.
Michael Owen thinks Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke should share minutes equally
In his column for the Daily Mail, Owen suggests that seeing as England have all this quality and pace in the attacking positions, they should use their depth to their advantage.
He thinks this principle should be applied across the entire front line, where Jude Bellingham is contending with Arsenal transfer target Morgan Rogers in the number ten role, and on the left, between Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford.
Owen recommends that rather than picking a starter for each position and hoping they can manage their energy across 90 minutes, use one player per half, every game.
That would mean Saka giving everything he’s got for 45 minutes, emptying the tank, before being replaced at half-time by Madueke, who would then play the second half with the same level of rigour.
He specifically referenced Saka’s situation when explaining his thinking. “There is a case for keeping a player like Bellingham for the second half. We have seen what a ‘moments’ player he can be.
“And if those big moments, at this World Cup especially, are going to come later in matches, that is when you want him on the pitch, fresh against tired legs.
“Maybe that is the same with Bukayo Saka, especially if he’s only 80-90 per cent fit right now.”
He also pointed to the sheer depth of attacking talent England have at their disposal as the reason this approach makes sense.
“Bellingham, Rogers, Gordon, Rashford, Saka and Noni Madueke on the right, there is explosive pace and quality among all of them.
“Get them running beyond Kane, get them pulling defenders out of position to create space for Kane. Space for Bellingham, even.
“I think there is more motivation and focus in doing that if you know you’ve got one half in which to do it.”
It’s an unconventional shout, to say the least.
But with conditions in North America likely to be testing and Tuchel himself having warned that games could be decided by fresh legs from the bench late on, sharing the load more equally could give England an edge.
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