'I admire his directness': Martin Keown thinks Chelsea 24-year-old will shine at Euro 2020

Martin Keown was certain that Ben Chilwell will carry his fine Chelsea form into the European Championship’s with England.

Writing in his Daily Mail column, Keown had nothing but kind words to say about the Blues full-back.

There can be very few complaints about Chilwell’s debut season for Chelsea.

His £45m (BBC Sport) move from Leicester City certainly paid off, as he was crowned a Champions League winner last month.

Signed by Frank Lampard from Leicester City, his campaign hit a hurdle shortly after Thomas Tuchel took over in January.

The transition from left-back to wing-back initially constricted Chilwell’s progress and he faced fresh competition from Marcos Alonso.

As time went by and Tuchel began to mould his team, the England international reclaimed his starting role.

He and Luke Shaw are now fighting for the same Three Lions spot, but Keown believed the former would prevail at this summer’s competition.

“After a slow start under Thomas Tuchel, Chilwell made the left wing-back position his own,” said the former Arsenal captain.

“The 24-year-old has grown in confidence and is a real talent.

“He gets into high positions, whips in good crosses and has that intelligence in linking up. I admire his directness.

“He’s just claimed a Champions League winners’ medal as a left wing-back, and can handle whatever Euro 2020 throws at him.”

Chilwell is one of many within Southgate’s squad that have never played in a major national tournament before.

In fact, only nine of those who featured for England at the 2018 World Cup have been selected for the Euros.

But it’s this exciting ensemble of young talent that’s got the country giddy with excitement and anticipation.

And to say Southgate’s players are inexperienced would be cruel.

Chilwell, Mason Mount and Reece James have just won football’s greatest domestic prize, defeating Manchester City’s quartet of homegrown stars.

Manchester United have Europa League finalists represented; Kieran Trippier is a La Liga champion.

Pull all these elements together and there is a winning formula, Southgate just needs to find the right solution.

‘I admire his directness’: Martin Keown thinks Chelsea 24-year-old will shine at Euro 2020