England watch - Aaron Lennon
Wednesday, 08 Nov 2006 15:21
Aaron Lennon destined for greatness
England's 2010 World Cup squad will, unless Sven-Goran Eriksson makes some sort of miraculous return to Soho Square, be devoid of David Beckham. That much is certain.
And while choosing to ignore the debate of whether Becks should be in the Three Lions squad now, it is crucial to identify his long-term successor on the right flank.
Steven Gerrard appears to be Steve McClaren's current flavour of the month but there is arguably one player who should usurp even the mighty Gerrard now and potentially for the next decade.
Name: Aaron Lennon
Position: Winger
Club: Tottenham
Age at start of South Africa 2010: 23
Tottenham Hotspur's £1 million signing of Aaron Lennon from Leeds in July 2005 represents one of the most astute pieces of transfer activity the Premiership has ever seen – rivalling even the £1.2 million outlay Manchester United paid the same shortsighted Elland Road club for a certain Eric Cantona in 1992.
This is a bold statement for a 19-year-old fleet-footed winger who has started less than 50 league games in his career and is yet to produce the consistency of performances to suggest he could become a figure anywhere near as influential as kung-fu king Cantona.
But it is also one that will receive as many nods in agreement as it will raise eyebrows of disagreement.
Aaron Lennon has the potential to be a truly phenomenal player. This hurts being a Chelsea fan, but his pace tore apart the champions at White Hart Lane this weekend and this exhibition of pace, poise and precision was by no means a one-off - far from one good game for an average player.
Lennon's close control and ability to sprint with the ball, which he displays whenever he is fully fit, represents an all but dead attribute that was once the wonder of British football. Think George Best, Charlie Cooke, Ryan Giggs. Lennon has the ability to force his way into this category and become one of the game's all-time great wingers.
Sure, he is still raw, to coin any cliche thrown at young players, but his current level is already near or even ahead of his nearest positional rivals and that includes Gerrard and Beckham. The former England's skipper's enforced exit came about in no small part as a result of Lennon's development and Gerrard's ability to cross from the right, which is astoundingly good, pales in significance in comparison to the danger which Lennon can pose for international defences.
This may all be lofty praise, too high some may say. But the truth is that wingers providing width and pace remain the most devastating form of attack. And if Lennon can provide this on a long-term basis then that can surely only bode well for England.
England's 2010 World Cup squad
*Players in bold – tickets to South Africa booked already
Goalkeepers
Paul Robinson
Possibles:
Chris Kirkland,
Ben Foster,
Rob Green,
Scott Carson
Defenders
John Terry,
Ashley Cole,
Rio Ferdinand,
Jamie Carragher
Possibles:
Glen Johnson,
Joleon Lescott,
Micah Richards,
Ledley King,
Michael Dawson,
Anton Ferdinand,
Leighton Baines,
Justin Hoyte,
Curtis Davies,
Wes Brown,
Phil Bardsley,
Michael Mancienne
Midfielders
Steven Gerrard,
Frank Lampard,
Owen Hargreaves,
Joe Cole,
Michael Carrick
Possibles:
Aaron Lennon,
Tom Huddlestone,
Nigel Reo-Coker,
Lee Cattermole,
Shaun Wright-Phillips,
Stewart Downing,
Giles Barnes,
James Morrison,
Kieran Richardson
Forwards
Wayne Rooney,
Michael Owen
Possibles:
David Nugent,
Theo Walcott,
James Vaughan,
Gabriel Agbonlahor,
Jermain Defoe,
Peter Crouch,
Darren Bent,
Dean Ashton,
Cameron Jerome