Gary Neville tips England exile – whose club are struggling in the Premier League – to be picked by Thomas Tuchel in a major surprise call-up, four years since his last game

Gary Neville has identified one Premier League midfielder whose game is more suited to international football than the club game, which could give new boss Thomas Tuchel plenty to think about.

The player already has some international experience, having earned ten caps for the Three Lions and one goal, and received rave reviews on his debut for the national team.

After winning 1-0 in Lithuania in 2018, he was described in a BBC Sport report as ‘England’s best player’ and a standout player ‘among so much mediocrity’.

However, with one last appearance for the team coming in 2020 under Gareth Southgate, the midfielder has since been left out in the cold for the past four years as their club form dropped and they fell down the pecking order.

But with Leicester back in the Premier League, Harry Winks has shown Neville he has what it takes to return to the England team after his performance against Nottingham Forest on Friday evening.

Thomas Tuchel will take command of the Three Lions from early 2025

Winks put in an impressive performance – especially in the first half – against Nottingham Forest

“He was absolutely outstanding – that typified his first half,” Neville said of his role in Leicester’s goal on Sky Sports.

‘A pass around the corner… Harry Winks is a player who you think could play at international level.

‘I know he has played at international level but when I look at him I think England are missing a player who can get us playing. And he is very good at that. In fact, he may be better suited for international football than for club football.’

Leicester suffered a 3-1 defeat in the East Midlands derby at the King Power Stadium on Friday evening, with Steve Cooper dropping to his old side.

The visitors took the lead through Ryan Yates, whose good form continued, before Jamie Vardy struck to level the score going into the break.

But it took just two minutes into the second half for Chris Wood’s purple spot to be extended. The New Zealand international struck twice in the second half to hand Cooper and Co a fourth defeat on their return to the top flight.

However, Winks was the standout performer, at least for Neville, in the first half of the match, although the Manchester United legend still had constructive criticism for the former Tottenham star.

Neville added: “He (Winks) was excellent in the first half,” he said. “But what he has to do in the second half, when it is more difficult for him, is he still has to get on the ball and dominate the game. That’s what the best players in that position do.

Chris Wood scored twice for the visitors as they secured a 3-1 win over rivals Leicester City

The midfielder played a crucial role in Jamie Vardy’s opener, although Neville still had constructive criticism to offer

‘He was taken off in the second half and that was the turning point in the game as Forest had to tighten up.’

Since leaving Tottenham in 2023 – after a loan to Sampdoria in 2022 – Winks has made 57 appearances for Leicester.

Under Enzo Maresca’s 2023/24 championship-winning side, Winks played a crucial role in securing the Foxes’ return to the Premier League.