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#4 Ross Barkley
After the first two games of the Premier League season it is safe to say that not many of us would have thought Ross Barkley would be in the starting line-up for Chelsea. Current boss Maurizio Sarri has shown tremendous faith in the forgotten man at Stamford Bridge after a torrid spell under the previous manager, Antonio Conte. It is hard to remember that Barkley is still only 24 years of age and now with Sarri and his playing style Barkley will have a fantastic opportunity to propel himself back into the international scene.
Despite being substituted in both the two games this season, Barkley has given a very impressive account of himself. Playing in a three-man midfield alongside Jorginho and Kante has given the former Everton midfielder the opportunity to play with more freedom and join the Chelsea attacks. What has been even more impressive about the Barkley performances is his ability to drop in and play alongside Jorginho in a deeper position, learning more of an understanding in a positional sense in the heart of the midfield. Playing in this role Barkley will know that he has to improve on the defensive side of his game, but with Gianfranco Zola at the club alongside Sarri, it looks like Barkley is adapting his game remarkably so he can certainly make this transition.
The biggest challenge facing Barkley, and this has been the problem for much of his career, is to stay injury free. Watching him against Arsenal, he still looked like he could provide more bursting runs into the final third but there likely remained a worry in the back of his head, about the hamstring problems possibly re-occurring. It is good to see Barkley back and getting game time, thus providing Southgate with another option.
Barkley already has 22 international appearances to his name, but if he stays injury free and continues to play in this multi-talented Chelsea midfield, this can only be great news for Southgate and England. The ability to play in a two-man midfield alongside a natural holding midfielder would be the best platform Barkley could get on the international stage and right now his ability is exactly what they need in this position.
The ability to dictate the game on the ball in the heart of the England midfield is a slight adaptation of his natural game he showed during his time at Goodison Park but Barkley could adapt into exactly what Southgate needs in this England side. Right now he might certainly be in line for a call-up to the England team.
