Aaron Cresswell has shone on the left side of David Moyes’ back three at West Ham this season.
He was part of the backline which kept another clean sheet on Saturday, in a late 1-0 win over Fulham.
That led Jermaine Jenas to tip him for an England recall, after a period of time where the Match of the Day pundit said he’s been playing ‘out of his skin’.
Cresswell has three England caps, the most recent of which came in 2017, and as per FourFourTwo, was asked after the game where he prefers playing.
“It is not so much about the individual, the team is the most important thing,” said Cresswell.
“If the gaffer asks me to play left-back in a four or in a three on the left, I’ll do whatever is most important for the team.
“That comes before any individual. When we’re playing well there is no reason to change it and I’m delighted with the way we’ve played the first eight games and we’re doing well.”
England are blessed at right back, but have been forced to use Kieran Trippier out of position on the left in the past two international breaks.
Cresswell is 30 now, and Gareth Southgate tends to prefer to bring younger players into the fold, like Bukayo Saka.
But given he has gone back to a back three and doesn’t have an obvious natural option to fill the role on the left of it, Jenas’ shout makes a small degree of sense.
The fact he could also play at wing back would help, but it would also be a surprise if Cresswell was in the 23-man party for Euro 2021.
All he can do is keep playing well, but given he hasn’t had a call-up in any of the last three squads, when England have been short down the left, it looks as if Cresswell’s time has passed at international level.