Bent expects Winks to keep Rice out of England team – but will he be ‘dropped’ again?

Darren Bent has had his say on the current debate regarding Harry Winks and Declan Rice, and he’s opted for his fellow Tottenham Hotspur man.

Winks impressed in England’s 6-0 win in Bulgaria on Monday night, whereas Rice struggled in last week’s 2-1 defeat to the Czech Republic.

The Tottenham midfielder’s display has led to many supporters claiming he deserves to start for Gareth Southgate’s side more than Rice, and Bent agrees.

Speaking to Football Insider, he doesn’t believe the 20-year-old will start against Montenegro, even though Jordan Henderson will be serving a suspension:

I’m not quite sure he will [start against Montenegro] because there’s no point playing him and Harry Winks. You put Harry Winks in there, Ross Barkley just scored two so he might be in there and then you’ve got Mason Mount. Rice might have to sit on the bench because there’s no point playing them two.

Read West Ham’s verdict

Henderson picked up a yellow card against Bulgaria and will, therefore, sit out the Montenegro qualifier next month.

With that in mind, Winks would need a midfield partner to play with him behind, you’d imagine, Ross Barkley after his brace on Monday.

It’s unlikely both Barkley and Mason Mount will start in Southgate’s 4-2-3-1 system, so it’s surely likely Rice will start alongside Winks.

It’ll be interesting to see what direction the England boss goes in, but it’d be very surprising to see Rice dropped again.