Troy Deeney believes England left-back Nico O’Reilly has ‘been getting away with murder’ regarding his performances.
Deeney added that the lack of critique headed O’Reilly’s way pales in comparison to the heat on winger Noni Madueke, who was rated a 1/10 by Adrian Durham for his showing against Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals.
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The ex-Watford striker’s brutal verdict on O’Reilly was made when he, Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent named their predicted line-up for England’s semi-final clash against Argentina.
After O’Reilly was picked in the XI, Deeney said on eSPORTY Drive: “By the way, he’s been getting away with murder. Because he’s been playing just as good as Madueke.
Goldstein felt Deeney’s verdict was rather harsh, prompting the latter to respond: “What’s been his good game?”
The Drive co-host admitted O’Reilly was yet to produce a memorable performance, but that he hadn’t exactly been bad either.
O’Really?
Deeney replied: “No, I agree. And I don’t think Madueke has had a bad game. He’s just been in the middle.
“I’m just saying, the level of what you look for in an attacking player is much different to what you look for in a defensive player.
“Nico O’Reilly hasn’t been great. He’s been okay.
“For a player of his talent, and a player of his ability, okay shouldn’t be good enough.”
Where’s your Djed at?
Having laid bare his criticism of O’Reilly, Deeney called for England boss Thomas Tuchel to replace him with Djed Spence.
Explaining his verdict, Deeney cited the need to lock down Lionel Messi, who will largely operate in the right side of the field, as something he believed Spence is better equipped for as opposed to O’Reilly.
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“It’s just coming up against Messi, because that’s what he’s going to come in on the [England] left side,” Deeney said.
“I would probably have to go Djed Spence just to match him. And say to Djed Spence, ‘Just follow him. If he goes inside, go inside.'”
O’Reilly has featured in all six of the Three Lions’ World Cup fixtures, with five of those being starts.
Similarly to O’Reilly, Spence has featured in each of England’s six World Cup fixtures to date but has started just twice.
Spence has showed impressive versatility across the tournament having played both left-back and right-back, with his 35-minute cameo against Norway especially strong.
Despite Deeney’s calls for Spence to earn a starting berth against Argentina on Wednesday, the Tottenham Hotspur defender is no guarantee to play such an important role.
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eSPORTY understood Spence was in pole position to start against Norway had he proved he was fully fit, but it was centre-back Ezri Konsa who instead got the nod.
Yet with the England players having now had a handful of days to recover from the gruelling extra-time duel against Norway, Spence may once again be in the frame to play from the get-go.
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