Tony Cascarino says Gareth Southgate should try to get James Milner back into England fold

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Tony Cascarino has used his column in the Times to call on Gareth Southgate to try and get Liverpool midfielder James Milner out of international retirement.

Milner has not played for England since retiring from the international stage in 2016 and Cascarino feels he is worthy of a spot in the plans for this summer’s Euro 2020.

He said: “Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should fill two of England’s midfield places at Euro 2020 but what about the third, more defensive player?

“Henderson could fill that role but is thriving as a number eight for Liverpool. Declan Rice is out of form, Eric Dier has not played enough and Harry Winks has played 90 minutes in just seven league games. If I was Gareth Southgate, I would be phoning James Milner and asking him to consider coming out of retirement.”

TBR’s View – Milner doesn’t anchor Liverpool’s midfield, so why would he anchor England’s?

England do face a question mark over the identity of their holding midfielder for Euro 2020 but Milner is not the answer.

Southgate has put a huge emphasis on younger blood during his reign and bringing Milner back from the cold would fly in the face of that.

Moreover, Milner doesn’t anchor Liverpool’s midfield – Jurgen Klopp uses him in a box-to-box role – so bringing him out of retirement to be England’s holding player would make little sense.

At this moment in time, perhaps Southgate will look to move Henderson back into the holding role he took up at World Cup 2018, but he is offering goals and assists at Anfield. It’s a conundrum but Milner is not the answer.