{"id":499934,"date":"2025-10-14T22:45:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T22:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/499934\/"},"modified":"2025-10-14T22:45:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T22:45:24","slug":"englands-best-left-back-options-ranked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/499934\/","title":{"rendered":"England’s best left-back options ranked"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

England set their focus on the World Cup in 2026, with a trip to America promising a chance to end a 60-year wait for a trophy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Plenty of players will be pushing for a place in Thomas Tuchel\u2019s<\/a> final squad heading to America, with some positions up for grabs.<\/p>\n

Perhaps one of the most open spots in the team is at left-back, where there is no clear option for the side over the next few months.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/ Click to subscribe to the podcast \"\"\/ <\/a><\/p>\n

So, with that said, here\u2019s a look at a ranking for each England<\/a> left-back ahead of the World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8 \u2013 Ben Chilwell<\/p>\n

Once an England and Chelsea<\/a> regular, Ben Chilwell<\/a> has struggled in recent seasons, with a lack of games coming for him.<\/p>\n

Those difficulties have seen the left-back move on loan to the Blues\u2019 sister club, Strasbourg in search of more game time.<\/p>\n

With so many options ahead of him impressing in the Premier League, it seems tough to see a route back for Chilwell.<\/p>\n

However, given his relationship with Tuchel from working together previously, there is always a chance.<\/p>\n

\"RCPhoto by Sathire Kelpa\/Eurasia Sport Images\/Getty Images7 \u2013 Tino Livramento<\/p>\n

Tino Livramento<\/a> is more comfortable as a right-back, but he could be an option to feature on the left if required.<\/p>\n

The Newcastle<\/a> star has shown impressive flashes on both flanks, having become a regular for the Magpies.<\/p>\n

However, injury has impacted him and it\u2019s unclear just how fit he will be over the next few months.<\/p>\n

\"TinoPhoto by Stu Forster\/Getty Images6 \u2013 Dan Burn<\/p>\n

Another star who could switch position is Dan Burn<\/a>, as the Newcastle defender offers some versatility at the back.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s more likely that the 33-year-old would be called up as a centre-back option, he has played at left-back when called upon.<\/p>\n

He is the sort of defender who can lock down a flank, even though he doesn\u2019t have the pace and agility of the others ahead of him in the pecking order.<\/p>\n

\"TottenhamPhoto by Han Myung-Gu\/Getty Images5 \u2013 Luke Shaw<\/p>\n

Manchester United<\/a> star Luke Shaw<\/a> was once the guaranteed England left-back, even when he struggled with injury.<\/p>\n

The defender has 34 caps for the Three Lions, as well as a goal in a major final for the nation.<\/p>\n

However, injuries and a change of position to centre-back haven\u2019t exactly helped his chances of getting into the squad again.<\/p>\n

Given the quality he has, a run of form for Shaw could change things quickly, but it remains to be seen if that is possible.<\/p>\n

\"LukePhoto by Michael Regan\/Getty Images4 \u2013 Tyrick Mitchell<\/p>\n

Crystal Palace<\/a> have been in fine form under Oliver Glasner, so it\u2019s no surprise to see plenty of their stars in the frame for an international call-up.<\/p>\n

Among those is Tyrick Mitchell<\/a>, who has impressed as a left wing-back in their system, offering plenty of attacking and defending qualities.<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old has two England caps to his name so far, the last of which came in 2022.<\/p>\n

There will be some hope that the three-year wait can come to an end soon, with some fine form in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

\"WestPhoto by MB Media\/Getty Images3 \u2013 Myles Lewis-Skelly<\/p>\n

Myles Lewis-Skelly<\/a> enjoyed a breakout campaign last time out, but he is now fighting for his place at Arsenal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That may be one thing standing in his way from taking up the England role over the next year, as he offers the ability to invert into midfield if required.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old has featured regularly under Tuchel, though he has warned that game time will be required.<\/p>\n

\"MylesPhoto by Matt Lewis \u2013 The FA\/The FA via Getty Images2 \u2013 Lewis Hall<\/p>\n

Another of the Newcastle contingent, Lewis Hall<\/a>, is eyeing up a place with the England squad next summer.<\/p>\n

The former Chelsea man was regularly with the Three Lions, but injuries have hampered him over the past season.<\/p>\n

When he returns, Hall is in line to compete for a place in the team, though the options around him are strong.<\/p>\n

\"EnglandPhoto by Alex Pantling\/Getty Images1 \u2013 Djed Spence<\/p>\n

Djed Spence<\/a> has been a breakout star for England under Tuchel, with the Tottenham<\/a> star proving his quality.<\/p>\n

He is capable of playing as both a left-back and a right-back, offering the sort of versatility that can be useful to a squad.<\/p>\n

\"DjedPhoto by Michael Regan\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Spence has plenty of pace, as well as quality in the attacking third.<\/p>\n

That mixes well with his defensive ability, which puts him in pole position to take up the role next summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"England set their focus on the World Cup in 2026, with a trip to America promising a chance…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":499935,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5008],"tags":[748,393,4884,16,15,1514],"class_list":{"0":"post-499934","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-england","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom","13":"tag-world-cup"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115374950316794356","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=499934"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499934\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/499935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=499934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=499934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=499934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}