England's attacking midfield options - ranked
- England have some of the world's best creative midfielders
- Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden are standouts
- Three Lions must build around attacking talent for future tournaments
By Tom Gott, Sean Walsh
For all the joy Gareth Southgate brought England supporters, the football on display was rarely swashbuckling.
The former England manager, who departed after Euro 2024, prioritised defensive structure over attacking flair, with the country's best attacking midfielders often finding themselves hamstrung by a negative approach.
However, with Lee Carsley taking over for the time being, things are set to change. A new era provides a new opportunity for England to discover their attacking identity, with the Three Lions boasting some of the most creative individuals in world football.
Here are England's best attacking midfield options - ranked.
10. Emile Smith Rowe
Emile Smith Rowe has already made a handful of appearances for England and scored his debut goal at senior level in a 10-0 demolition of San Marino back in 2021. However, injuries and a lack of game time at Arsenal saw him fall out of contention.
A lucrative switch to Fulham in the most recent summer transfer window could kickstart his international career, with Smith Rowe having already impressed en route to becoming a starter for the Cottagers.
The talent and potential is there, now it's up to him.
9. Harvey Elliott
Harvey Elliott was part of the young England Under-21 side that lifted the Euros in 2023 and has been in impressive form with Liverpool ever since. Now fully transformed into an attack-minded central midfielder, the youngster was particularly influential in the latter stages of the Jurgen Klopp era.
Yet to earn a senior cap, Elliott has the misfortune of fighting with some of the best players in world football for a spot in the England midfield, although he continues to thrive at youth level.
He doesn't start every week for Liverpool but his ability to play a few different roles will help him going forward, as will his strong relationship with Carsley.
8. Angel Gomes
Gomes was an incredibly surprising inclusion in Carsley's first England squad for the September international break and the Lille midfielder made his senior debut off the bench against Ireland in the UEFA Nations League.
The former Manchester United youth prospect has blossomed since leaving Old Trafford for Lille in 2020 and he also shone for Carsley's Under-21s side in recent years.
Gomes can play in a myriad of roles but generally enjoys operating in attacking zones, either as a box-to-box midfielder or as a more advanced playmaker.
7. Morgan Rogers
Making the move from Championship Middlesbrough to an up-and-coming Aston Villa side was not straightforward for Morgan Rogers, but he took little time to settle in the Midlands.
A lively end to the 2023/24 season has been followed by an exceptional start to the new campaign, with Rogers having emerged as one of Unai Emery's favourite attacking options.
He's operated as both a number ten and shadow striker for the Villans and is on course for a first senior cap if he continues his fine form.
6. Morgan Gibbs-White
Morgan Gibbs-White is certainly a player that has flown under the radar at Nottingham Forest and he was unfortunate not to earn a senior cap under Southgate following some impressive purple patches
The midfielder, who has won the Under-21 Euros and Under-17 World Cup with England, made his senior debut against Ireland during Carsley's first game in charge and was named in the squad for the October international break.
While the Forest star had to withdraw from the most recent squad through injury, he's a shoo-in for future call-ups.
5. James Maddison
His omission from Southgate's Euro 2024 squad means James Maddison will be 29 by the time he has another chance to feature for England at a major tournament for the first time.
Tottenham's chief creator struggled after returning from an ankle injury during the second half of 2023/24 having set the division alight during the first ten games.
He simply didn't do enough heading into the Euros to be picked over several stellar alternatives, but his quality has been on show at the beginning of 2024/25 as he fights to return to the England set-up.
4. Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze's stock has risen remarkably over the past two seasons and he found himself as a regular substitute at Euro 2024, often making a positive impression with his tricky feet and direct running.
The talented forward, who can play as a number ten or out on the left flank, has honed his skills at Crystal Palace and has now earned a reputation as an unstoppable dribbler and scorer of worldies.
Such a reputation will keep him firmly in England's plans over the coming years.
3. Phil Foden
Foden has been an ever-present in the England squad since making his debut back in 2020. The Manchester City star was an automatic pick for Euro 2024 having enjoyed the best club season of his career.
He didn't enjoy a particularly fruitful tournament despite reaching the final with England and that may harm his reputation under a new regime, but, realistically, there is no chance that the Manchester City star isn't dazzling audiences in the near future.
How to get the best out of Foden on the international stage is a challenge that faces Carsley, with the Stockport-born maestro comfortable as an attacking midfielder and winger.
2. Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer's remarkable debut campaign at Chelsea meant Southgate had no other choice but to include the attacking midfielder in his Euro 2024 squad, with the former Man City man rewarding him in Germany.
Palmer should have featured more regularly at the tournament and proved his worth in the 2-1 final defeat to Spain, scoring a beautiful strike to offer England brief hopes of victory.
He continues to ooze class on a weekly basis for Chelsea and his tally of goals and assists speaks for itself. Right now, there are few better attacking midfielders in world football.
1. Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham's meteoric rise has been nothing short of astonishing, yet at the same time, it hasn't been all that surprising.
The Real Madrid superstar has looked destined to reach the top of the game ever since he pulled on a Borussia Dortmund shirt, and he's ready to run things for England on the international stage.
While not at his best at Euro 2024, he was still key in England getting out of the group stage and reaching the final following his extraordinary stoppage-time overhead kick in the last 16.
READ MORE ON ENGLAND'S SQUAD OPTIONS & BEST IN EVERY POSITION
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