In truth, England’s welcome of Bosnia and Herzegovina wasn’t one that’ll live long in the memory of fans. The Three Lions ultimately cruised to a 3-0 win at St. James’ Park on Monday night as goals from Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Kane secured a pre-Euros victory. However, the game itself gave Gareth Southgate plenty of food for thought.
Eberechi Eze impressed from the outset up until his withdrawal on the hour mark and many are now backing the Crystal Palace star to make the plane when Southgate confirms his 26-man squad later this week. Eze’s Palace teammate Adam Wharton is another who many believe has played his way into Southgate’s Euros selection.
Wharton came on in the 62nd minute on Monday night to continue what has been a superb rise over the last six months. The midfielder moved to Selhurst Park in January as Palace pipped Chelsea to his signature. Wharton had shone for a disjointed Blackburn side and yet few could have predicted he’d make such a seamless adjustment when he made the leap from the Championship to the Premier League.
The 20-year-old is now one of the first names on the Palace teamsheet with Wharton, among others, shining under Oliver Glasner, the Austrian succeeding Roy Hodgson in south London back in February. Since then, Palace have been one of the division’s best teams and Wharton has been at the heart of their rise up the table. Eze, Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta may have hogged the spotlight for their performances in the final third but it’s Wharton who has kept the Eagles cruising.
He showcased exactly what he can bring to the England midfield against Bosnia and Herzegovina as he completed all 36 passes he attempted after coming on. If he was fazed by the situation, then he certainly didn’t show it, exuding the composure of a seasoned pro, not one who has made just 16 Premier League appearances in his career. It’s this mentality that will bode well for England should Wharton make the cut.
There is an extra midfield spot up for grabs in Germany this summer. Southgate’s decision to overlook Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips means the likes of Conor Gallagher and Kobbie Mainoo are vying for that spot alongside Declan Rice, while there is also the possibility of Jude Bellingham dropping into a deeper role to accomodate Cole Palmer, the Real Madrid star playing a similar role to the one he did for Borussia Dortmund. Despite his inexperience at the top level, though, Wharton would perhaps be the best choice to feature at the base of the midfield.
🏴 Adam Wharton’s statistically calculated player characteristics:
✅ Strengths
🟢 Key passes
🟢 Taking set-pieces
🟢 Tackling
🟢 Interception
🟢 Concentration❌ Weaknesses
🔴 Aerial duels https://t.co/HY63UygxLG pic.twitter.com/biPeehiGwJ
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) June 4, 2024
That’s largely down to his range of passing and the variety of which he can pick out a teammate. Indeed, he’s able to play the safe pass to retain possession or look to break the lines to help captialise on his side’s dominance. More often than not he’ll seek to play a first-time pass to drive momentum from midfield when another player may take a touch. That split-second decision making could be the difference in an attack manifesting into a genuine chance and a move breaking down entirely.
In addition, Wharton’s already used to playing in a midfield pairing having done so for Palace under Glasner, featuring alongside Will Hughes as the duo built up a solid understanding. Playing in a partnership with Arsenal star Rice would certainly help Wharton develop were he to operate with one of the Premier League’s best midfielders. Crucially too is that the duo can work well in tandem to ensure the defence is well protected and the attack supported.
Rice is perhaps the more defensively diligent of the two but he’s shown how effective he can be when given the license to push forward in midfield. That’s not to say that Wharton is primarily a holding midfielder yet rather has the awareness to know when to sit when Rice would push forward, and vice versa. With a desire to get stuck in – Wharton ended the Premier League season with an average of 3.3 tackles per 90 – it’s further proof that he is able to sufficiently shield a backline. A ball winning, possession retaining machine with an eye for a line breaking pass? On the face of it, Wharton is perfect.
Whether he is ready for tournament football remains to be seen. Wharton’s career is very much in its infancy and he’ll have plenty of time to nail down a spot for the national team. Yet with questions over who’ll play in midfield for England at the Euros… the Palace youngster might just be the answer…
