England U21 star tipped to become future captain of senior team as youngster is earmarked to solve age-old problem for the Three Lions

Daily Mail​

10 hours ago

England's left back spot has long been a puzzle that managers have had a hard time finding the solution for.
Working back from defeat to Senegal, the starting left backs read as follows: Myles Lewis-Skelly, Reece James, Lewis-Skelly twice, Lewis Hall, Rico Lewis, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Rico Lewis twice, Levi Colwill, Luke Shaw, Kieran Trippier, playing as a wing-back, and then three in a row for Trippier.
Cast minds even further back and you see Kyle Walker playing a few minutes at left back against Slovenia at Euro 2024; you see Eberechi Eze come on as a left wing-back against Switzerland at the Euros; there were calls from Ian Wright to have Bukayo Saka play at left wing-back or even left back in that same Switzerland game.
Crystal Palace 's Tyrick Mitchell can also count himself among the carousel of left backs, albeit one that hasn't featured since 2022 for England.
So, when Thomas Tuchel sat down for a one-to-one with Tino Livramento to explain why he wanted him to go away with the Under-21s this summer - rather than link up with the seniors - and take on more responsibility in a camp, it was made crystal clear that left back is there for the taking going forward.
'I see it as a privilege,' Livramento said. 'Thomas spoke to me about the senior squad and I spoke to Lee [Carsley] as well about the role coming here.
'I haven't played at a tournament for England at any age group, I've always missed it through injury, so I think that's a big thing for me.'
Livramento was the stand-out player in the Under-21s opening group game against the Czech Republic showcasing a level that was head-and-shoulders ahead of many of his peers.
Carsley wasn't surprised and neither was assistant coach Ashley Cole, widely viewed as England's greatest left back, who has put time into Chelsea fan Livramento with one-to-one tips.
'As coach, you stand on the sideline and see how much information he takes on and takes on board,' Cole explained.
'And I keep saying it, but the willingness to want to learn and be the best, I think is always a great trait to have.
'Whatever level he wants to get to, he can get to because he's got that personality and desire.
'I think he's got a beautiful future, a bright future. Long may it continue that he keeps playing for Newcastle, keeps gaining experience and keeps his levels up.'
As for Cole getting involved in training sessions, can he still mix it with Livramento and Co?
'I can't move anymore, my ankle is gone! I was probably the worst player last week when I joined in.
'But it's good to just see these young guys. I'm trying to give them little nuggets of my experience, and it's great to see them level up.'
Livramento has just one senior England cap to his name from when he played right back against the Republic of Ireland during Carsley's interim spell in charge.
But it is at left back where Theo Walcott, who played with Livramento at Southampton, works best, even if it's not the 22-year-old's favourite position.
'I like him on left,' Walcott told Mail Sport.
'He's kind of a right-footed Gareth Bale in stature and the way he runs and I feel like he'd be the perfect wing-back for me.
'He is a potential [England] future captain, just because of his presence and how he is around the place.
'As a player he's got the potential to be that leader and they just want more of that because they can see it in him, I can see it in him. You need a little bit more out of him and this tournament can bring a side out of him that he's not used to.'
Livramento has heeded the advice of Tuchel by involving himself in the leadership group out here in Slovakia alongside centre back Charlie Cresswell, midfielder Harvey Elliott and team captain James McAtee.
His style is more understated, a quiet character but one who is emerging in real time as a star that others are looking to raise there level to match.
'He's kept going,' Carsley said. 'It's his first tournament for England and we believe that if we can have success in these tournaments with these experiences, it's going to help the seniors in the long term.
'But that's got to be his goal - playing in the senior team. He's definitely got the capabilities to do.'
With the guidance of a left back legend in Cole and the unwavering backing from Carsley and Tuchel behind the scenes, maybe the missing puzzle piece is now finally ready to slot into place.