As featured on NewsNow: Football news

England boss Hodgson: Everton's Stones can play right-back

England boss Roy Hodgson says he'd be comfortable playing Everton youngster John Stones at right-back.

Stones is viewed primarily as a centre-back at Goodison Park - although he has played at right-back under Roberto Martinez.

"It would not be a gamble at all," Hodgson said ahead of the Euro2016 qualifier with Switzerland. "I think John came into the Everton team as a right-back and I know that like Calum Chambers, who came into the Southampton side at right-back, that their managers also see futures for them at centre-back.

"I don't think you have to be a genius to work that one out. But I have to say that on Wednesday night his performance defensively was very good.

"However, we are not going to get as much out of him going forward as you would out of Kyle Walker, who is injured, because he is an attacking right-back, just like [Leighton] Baines is an attacking left-back.

"But he does go forward, though when he gets in those wide positions with two men around him, he is not going to skip around the pair of them in the same way that I would expect [Raheem] Sterling or [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain would."

 For the big stories and the banter follow us on Twitter: @tribalfootball

Video of the day:

About the author

Tribal Football Staff

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free