Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp believes a trio of Manchester City stars must be in England's starting line-up when the Three Lions kick off their World Cup campaign next week.
England will take on Iran in the first group stage game on Monday 21st November, and there are five City players Gareth Southgate can call upon in his 26-man squad. Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips all made the cut, but it's the first three who Redknapp believes must be in the starting XI.
Speaking to BetVictor ahead of the tournament, Redknapp included Grealish, Stones and Foden in his ideal side.
READ MORE: History shows why Man City can bounce back from rare Etihad setback
"I’d want to get Grealish in my team. I’m a great Grealish fan, I just love Grealish," Redknapp said.
"But with them two in the middle of the park, I’d probably play… you know, there’s different options with that system. You can either play three in the middle of the park, or you can play two in there with one behind which I quite like.
"If I’m playing one in behind, I’d play a split-front; two players I’d probably go with are Grealish, and I think I’d go with [Bukayo] Saka. I think he’s a fantastic talent. I’d play Grealish off the left, and Harry Kane obviously play up front."
The former Tottenham and Portsmouth boss said he'd pick Stones in defence alongside Manchester United's Harry Maguire, although he admitted that Southgate doesn't really have too many options.
"There’s no young centre halves around that you can say 'yeah he should be in the team'," he said.
Redknapp then selected Foden to play in midfield behind the front three, a role he has played on a few occasions for City this season, most recently in the 3-1 defeat of Sevilla a couple of weeks ago.
READ NEXT:
