Gary Lineker issues warning to Arsenal star over place in England team

Former England striker Gary Lineker (Picture: Getty)

Gary Lineker has suggested Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice’s place in the England team could come under threat following the emergence of Alex Scott.

Scott earned rave reviews for his performance during his full England debut as the Three Lions battered Croatia 7-0 in the Nations League on Saturday night.

The Bournemouth star played 70 minutes in England’s midfield alongside Manchester City’s Elliot Anderson before being subbed off.

Scott would have hoped to get another chance to impress in England’s clash against Czech Republic on Tuesday night but the FA confirmed on Monday morning that he had left the camp due to a thigh injury.

The 23-year-old, who has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea and Arsenal, is set to be out for around two months with a quadriceps issue.

Speaking before Scott’s untimely withdrawal, Lineker heaped praise on the midfielder and suggested he could rival Rice for a permanent place in the England team.

‘What an assured performance we saw from Alex Scott,’ ex-England striker Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast.

New England star Alex Scott (Picture: Getty)

‘I watched him quite closely and it’s obviously only one game against a team who didn’t play very well on the night, but he was a big part of the game.

‘If you look at the great teams that win tournaments, they have control in games and I think Alex Scott is a player we haven’t necessarily seen within that England midfield.

‘Declan Rice has his strengths and is brilliant with his delivery and work-rate, but there’s a calmness and control to Scott, he never gives the ball away and he’s always scanning.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice (Picture: Getty)

‘I was really impressed. What a very, very confident start to his England career.

‘I wonder what Thomas Tuchel is going to do because Alex Scott has that kind of control and Declan Rice’s a totally different player.

‘Does it give him a different option now and does it mean, perhaps, that Declan’s place is not always assured?

‘Maybe he will want to play slightly differently with someone like Alex Scott. It might be a bit early to say that but it’s a conversation to be had.’

Thomas Tuchel reserved special praise for Scott for praise after England’s emphatic Nations League win over Croatia, describing him as ‘the complete package’.