James Milner has for a long time received a mixed reaction when it comes to England, with some admiring the work he does both defensively and offensively, while others question his ability going forward. It is clear that he is well liked within the England camp, especially by Roy Hodgson, as he offers something a little bit different by getting up and down the pitch all match. This energy and determination is especially useful against some of the better nations as it means England have another body defending, especially down the right, as Glen Johnson can be suspect defensively.
He had a mixed campaign with Manchester City, winning the Premier League, getting 4 assists but only scoring once. That isn’t a great contribution going forward, but he only started 12 matches, coming on as a substitute 19 times. He may need to move from Manchester City if he wants to get regular first team football, but he is still in the frame for an England spot at the moment. His tackle success rate of 90.32% from 31 tackles highlights why he is so highly rated for his defensive work. He could be an attractive option against Italy and Uruguay, as England will have to do their fair share of defending, but Hodgson will look at a more attacking player against Costa Rica.
Hodgson has a very tough decision to make when it comes to his attacking options. It’s clear that Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge will be starting, but it will be interesting to see who makes up the attacking line. Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all be hoping to start, while Danny Welbeck could also be used on the wing. Although Milner doesn’t share their attacking ability, he is a safe option who has experience at international tournaments and he is very reliable. If he does get the chance to start, he will not let his country down and will consistently deliver 7/10 performances.
England have a very tough group, which is why it’s difficult for Hodgson to get his team selection right. He needs experience in his line up, while he also needs some youngsters who play with no fear. His team selection against Peru was interesting, but he may opt for another winger over Danny Welbeck, while Jack Wilshere will also be pushing for a starting place. The manager may opt for a side full of experience against Italy as they know them very well. Milner has a very good chance of starting that match, due to his exceptional work rate. That will be crucial in the heat of Manaus.
Overall, Milner offers a unique option on the wing as he is so useful defensively. England have the talents to score goals, but their defence is shaky, with the two centre-backs and Leighton Baines not being established at international level. They need to keep it tight at the back to give the talented attacking force the chance to win them matches. The longer they stay in the tournament, the more important Milner will become as England would get dominated by sides like Spain, Brazil and Argentina, making the defensive abilities of the midfielders more important. Although Lallana and Sterling have had exceptional seasons at club level, neither offer what Milner does to England.
