Declan Rice has not been part of the England squad for the current international break, giving other midfielders a chance to show what they can do
Gary Lineker on the Rest is Football Podcast
Gary Lineker has sent a warning to Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice (Image: The Rest is Football/Youtube )
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Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has been warned by Gary Lineker that his place in the England lineup may not be assured after the international break. Rice has missed the Nations League matches after pulling out of the squad due to work load concerns.
On Saturday, his place was taken by Alex Scott, who was making his full debut for the nation, after earning his first cap as a substitute against Serbia just a few days earlier. The Bournemouth midfielder caught the eye with his performance in the record-breaking 7-0 win over Croatia.
He has been ruled out of Tuesday's clash against Czechia due to injury which he felt just before the weekend's match. The problem looks set to keep him out of action for around two months.
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But Lineker has suggested that Scott's performance against Croatia could be enough to make Thomas Tuchel consider a change to his usual starting midfield, which could be bad news for Rice. . "What an assured performance we saw from Alex Scott," the former England striker said on The Rest is Football podcast.
"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. 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?
Declan Rice during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal FC.
Declan Rice has been warned that his place in the England team could be under threat. (Image: Clive Rose, Getty Images)
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"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.
Rice has been a regular fixture under Tuchel - even when the Arsenal star wasn't completely fit for matches at the World Cup. Yet Scott has provided the England boss with an alternative option, and he spoke glowingly about him after the record-breaking victory in Rijeka.
"First start and what a start, what a performance," Tuchel hailed. "He is so smooth on the ball, his decision making is at the highest level. He plays with so much confidence.
"He is so active, so confident. The work rate off the ball. He is just the complete package. He gave us a lot of mobility and a lot of variety and work rate in the centre of the pitch."
Scott also spoke following the final whistle and is 'hungry' to prove himself at international level, having missed out on Tuchel's squad for the World Cup. "It gave me more hunger but I've said there's so many top players for this country, it's a tough squad to get into," the midfielder acknowledged.
"There was no bad feelings about not going to the World Cup, I went to the prep camp, I wanted to do that and learn as much as I can and it helped me coming into this camp and starting to play games."