- The midfielder has picked up 10 international caps between 2018 and 2020
- They put in an impressive performance on Friday in the East Midlands derby
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Gary Neville has identified one Premier League midfielder whose game is more suited to international football than the club game – which could give incoming boss Thomas Tuchel plenty to think about.
The player does already have some international experience, having earned 10 caps for the Three Lions as well as a goal, and earned rave reviews on his debut for the national team.
Starting a 1-0 away win in Lithuania back in 2018, he was described as ‘England’s best performer’ and a standout player ”among so much mediocrity’ in a report from BBC Sport.
However, with a final appearance for the team coming in 2020 under Gareth Southgate, the midfielder has since spent the last four years out in the cold after their club form dropped and they fell down the pecking order.
But now, with Leicester back in the Premier League, Harry Winks has shown Neville that he has what it takes to break back into the England team, following his display against Nottingham Forest on Friday night.
Gary Neville has claimed that Harry Winks has shown he is good enough to return to the England set up
Thomas Tuchel will assume command of the Three Lions starting at the beginning of 2025
Winks put in an impressive performance – particularly in the first half – against Nottingham Forest
‘He was absolutely outstanding – this typified his first half,’ Neville said of his role in Leicesters goal on Sky Sports.
‘A little pass around the corner… Harry Winks is a player who you think could play at international level.
‘I know he has played at international level, but I look at him and think England lack a player who can get us playing. And he is very good at that. He might be better suited to international football actually than club football.’
Leicester fell to a 3-1 defeat in the East Midlands derby at the King Power Stadium on Friday night, with Steve Cooper falling to his former side.
The visitors raced into the lead through Ryan Yates whose fine form continues, before Jamie Vardy struck to level the tie going into the break.
But it took just two second half minutes for Chris Wood’s purple patch to be extended, the New Zealand international striking twice in the second half to consigned Cooper and Co to a fourth defeat on their return to the top-flight.
Winks, though, was the standout performer, for Neville at least, in the first half of the match, though the Manchester United legend did still have some constructive criticisms for the former Tottenham star.
Neville added: ‘He (Winks) was outstanding in the first half,’ he said. ‘But what he has to do in the second half, when it’s more difficult for him, is he has to still get on the ball and dominate the game – that’s what the best players do in that position.
Chris Wood scored twice for the visitors as they secured a 3-1 victory over rivals Leicester City
The midfielder played a crucial role in Jamie Vardy’s opener, though Neville still had some constructive criticism to offer
‘He got nullified in the second half and that was the turning point in the game because Forest had to tighten up.’
Since leaving Tottenham in 2023 – after a loan to Sampdoria in 2022 – Winks has gone on to play 57 games for Leicester.
Under Enzo Maresca’s Championship-winning side of 2023-24 Winks played a pivotal role in securing the Foxes’ return to the Premier League.