sport news England's BEST stars of the Championship in each position after Gareth ... trends now
This week saw England boss Gareth Southgate lay bare his concerns over the future of the England national team as the number of English players playing in the Premier League continues to fall.
Southgate made particular reference to the fact he only had four left-footed left backs playing in the Premier League and conceded he would ‘have to start looking in the Championship or elsewhere’ in the future.
With that in mind, Sportsmail have selected the best English XI in the Championship based on data from the stats gurus at Delphlyx – and it produced some interesting results…
Gareth Southgate fears there is a lack of English talent in the Premier League - and urged he may have to start looking around the Championship for players to represent the Three Lions
Goalkeeper: Matt Ingram (Hull)
Injuries have meant it has been a stop-start campaign for the Tigers goalkeeper but when he has played his numbers have been impressive.
The 6ft 1in shot-stopper has, remarkably, won all of his aerial duels this season and has performed similarly well with his feet, recording an 88.5% pass success rate.
His average of over three saves per game also sees him rank highly compared to other goalkeepers in the division.
Matt Ingram has won all aerial duels this season and performed similarly well with his feet
Ingram's average of 3.19 saves per game also ranks highly compared to other goalkeepers
Right back: Max Aarons (Norwich)
The full back’s performances in the Premier League mean he has long been seen as a future England international and now Aarons has backed up those displays by producing some impressive numbers in the second division.
Aarons loves to make marauding runs down the right and averages four of those runs per game.
He makes nearly seven progressive passes per match too, showing his eagerness to play on the front foot by passing forwards.
Norwich's Max Aarons makes nearly seven progressive passes per match in the Championship
Data shows the Norwich full-back is one of the best attacking defenders in the league
Right centre back: Rob Dickie (QPR)
QPR’s season has only gone one direction since the departure of Mick Beale in November – down.
But Dickie continues to be one of the best right-footed centre backs in the division.
Standing at 6ft 3in it is no surprise that his aerial duel success of 68% is one of the best in the league while his overall duel success rate is also an impressive 36.45%.
QPR's Rob Dickie continues to be one of the best right-footed centre backs in the division
Standing at 6ft 3in tall, Dickie has emerged a formidable defender at QPR this campaign
Left centre back: Jake Cooper (Millwall)
Millwall's success this season has been built on solid defensive foundations and their key man at the back is Jake Cooper.
The 28-year-old is an experienced operator at this level and has been one of the club’s most consistent performers in recent seasons.
He averages nearly 13 ball recoveries per game and boasts an impressive duel success rate of 30.95%.
Jake Cooper is an experienced operator and one of Millwall's most consistent performers
Averaging almost 13 ball recoveries per match, Millwall centre-back Cooper is impressing
Left back: Ryan Giles (Middlesbrough)
One of the stars of Middlesbrough’s incredible revolution under Michael Carrick.
Giles’ quality in the final third is unmatched in the division and he averages 2.37 successful crosses per match.
His ability to take on and beat his opposition number is also evident as he averages one dribble past his opponent per game, which is unusually high
