Why Drinkwater Warrants England Call-up for Consistent Leicester Outings
As Leicester maintain their impressive run towards the Premier League title, it’s hard to find any faults in the Foxes’ charge. A little under 12 months ago, Leicester were staring relegation in the face. In fact on this day exactly one year ago, the club footed the Premier League table and were seven points off safety. Indeed, it’s been quite the extraordinary turnaround by the Foxes.
As they gear up for the welcome of Newcastle United on Monday night, Claudio Ranieri’s team have the chance to re-establish their five-point gap at the summit of England’s top tier, with unlikely contenders Tottenham currently their biggest rivals to their first Premier League crown. While a number of individuals have performed above and beyond in order to help catapult Leicester up the table - most notably Jamie Vardy and Riyad Maharez - it’s been a superb team effort for them to be in the position they are in at the time of writing.
The likes of Robert Huth, Marc Albrighton, Christian Fuchs and N’Golo Kante, to name four, have each played as big a role as Vardy and Mahrez in Leicester’s stunning season. The latter’s midfield partner, though, has worked wonders to forge a career as a Premier League-standard regular. Danny Drinkwater has been a hugely consistent performer in the middle of the park for Leicester, gaining a WhoScored rating of 7.28, a vast improvement on the 6.70 he gained under Nigel Pearson last term.
Kante and Drinkwater have forged one of the most formidable partnerships in England’s top tier, with the pairing complimenting one another perfectly. Given the Foxes’ approach to soaking up pressure before hitting teams on the counter attack - Leicester have scored more counter-attacking goals (4) than any other Premier League team this season - Drinkwater’s tenacity in midfield is ideal for the club’s style of play. Only Sunderland (43.2%) and West Brom (42.4%) are averaging less possession than the Foxes (44.5%), further heightening the need for a combative pair in order to stem the flow of attacks on Kasper Schmeichel’s goal.
It’s clear for all to see that Kante and Drinkwater are the ideal midfield partners for Leicester. Drinkwater has won possession in the midfield third more times (142) than any other player in the Premier League this season. Kante (128) is third on this list. No player, meanwhile, has made more tackles and interceptions combined in England’s top tier this term than Kante (235). While Drinkwater has made just 124, this merely highlights the different roles between the two in the middle of the park.
Kante is evidently the tough-tackling midfielder of the duo and while Drinkwater isn’t one to shirk his defensive responsibilities, he is perhaps more measured in his approach to robbing the opposition of possession. With Mahrez, Albrighton and Vardy operating in the final third, the trio offer pacey outlets for Drinkwater to utilise when Leicester to win the ball back. No Leicester player is averaging more accurate through balls than Drinkwater (0.4) while only Albrighton (1.9) and Mahrez (1.6) are averaging more key passes than the 26-year-old (1.3).
It’s heightened speculation that an England call-up is a very real possibility for Drinkwater. With the final international break of the season looming, Roy Hodgson may be keen to retain his tried-and-tested performers with Euro 2016 quickly approaching, though it’s hard to overlook Drinkwater’s exploits. Of those in his position, there are few in better form at present.
While a lack of experience on the international stage perhaps hinders his chances of consolidating a spot in the squad, Hodgson will find it increasingly difficult to resist the temptation to call on Drinkwater, especially if he churns out another fine showing against Newcastle. However, that could be easier said than done. With Rafa Benitez at the helm, the Magpies will hope for the new manager lift.
The Spaniard has not lost his first game in charge of a new team in his career, winning two and drawing four, and one would expect a much-improved performance from Newcastle with Benitez at the helm. Yet, the Magpies are expected to sit deeper, meaning the onus will be on Leicester to take the game to Newcastle, a concept they are unfamiliar with given their approach this season.
Ranieri needs his key players to step up once more at the King Power Stadium on Monday night. Drinkwater has since emerged as one of the vital components in his team and should he, among others, perform to the standards expected by Ranieri, Leicester will take another huge step towards domestic glory. For Drinkwater, meanwhile, this could in turn culminate in international recognition at long last for one of the Premier League’s more consistent midfielders this season.
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