England midfielder Conor Gallagher s confidence will have taken a hit after he lasted only 45 minutes against Slovenia on Tuesday night, says Jack Wilshere.
It was reported over the weekend that Gareth Southgate would start Chelsea vice-captain Gallagher, 24, in midfield against Slovenia and that proved to be his only change for .
The Chelsea star came in for Trent Alexander-Arnold with Southgate s experiment of putting the Liverpool right-back in midfield failing.
Many people were calling for either Kobbie Mainoo or Adam Wharton to start instead of Gallagher, or for Jude Bellingham to move deeper to allow Phil Foden to play in the 10 with Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon on either side of him.
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Southgate obviously did nothing of the sort, looking to bring more energy to the team by starting the 24-year-old next to Declan Rice.
Gallagher was hooked by Southgate at half-time as the manager admitted defeat after naming the wrong starting XI versus the Slovenians.
Mainoo replaced him and the Three Lions immediately improved, with the Manchester United teenager completing more passes within 20 minutes of coming on than Gallagher did in the entire first 45.
Southgate was harsh to bring off Gallagher in England draw Wilshere
Former England midfielder Wilshere was impressed with Mainoo off the bench and admits he wanted the 19-year-old to start the match on Tuesday night.
Despite this, the ex-Arsenal man said Southgate s decision to bring Gallagher off was harsh and believes it will knock the player s confidence for the rest of Euro 2024.
Kobbie Mainoo was always my preference to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s midfield, Wilshere explained.
I think he showed why in the second half tonight. But I still feel that it was harsh on Conor Gallagher that he was taken off at half time.
Firstly because it was probably our best half of the tournament. And secondly, because it didn’t feel like a Gareth Southgate thing to do.
It will knock Gallagher’s confidence for sure. He will have thought that this was his chance, but he only gets a half.
