Nico O'Reilly says his long-term future is in midfield, even as he keeps his place at left back for England at the World Cup. That is the role that has carried him into the tournament, and it has already made him first choice for England on the left side.
He put it plainly: "I think in the future I will be back in midfield," and then added, "My profile, everything fits there and maybe a box to box midfielder but left-back I have been enjoying it and it has got me here now to a World Cup."
Nico O'Reilly and England
Last week, O'Reilly started in England's 4-2 win over Croatia. This week, he is in line to start again against Ghana on Tuesday, keeping him in the same role while the bigger question about his club future stays in the background.
He has not treated left back as a fixed limit. "Playing at left-back I have been playing in the middle for most of it anyway so it’s not like I am playing as a traditional left-back, even in England, I am still coming inside and allowed to drift in and drift out wide so it is a bit more relaxed," he said.
Manchester City and Elliot Anderson
That matters for Manchester City because the club are working on a deal for Elliot Anderson, and the idea of O'Reilly and Anderson together in midfield has been described as an attractive pairing. Rodri's future also carries long-term uncertainty, which makes any midfield plan more sensitive for Manchester City.
O'Reilly's own view is clear enough. He said his profile fits midfield, and he could develop into a box-to-box role rather than stay locked at left back. For now, though, the current answer is simple: England keep him on the flank, and Tuesday against Ghana gives him another chance to hold that spot.
Antoine Semenyo and Ghana
Ghana brings a different test. O'Reilly may face clubmate Antoine Semenyo, who is a key player for the Black Stars, and he expects a physical game. "Antoine is a very good player. I’ve seen it first hand in training and playing with him," he said.
He also spelled out the approach England need. "I know Ghana are going to be very physical. If we play our game, we do what we did towards the end of the last game, I think we should be okay," he said. On Semenyo specifically, his plan was blunt: "He’s very strong. He’s always in the gym! He’s a big lad but he can’t win the game by himself so if we double up on him, we’ll see."
England will have their own size and strength in the contest, and O'Reilly pointed to set pieces as a danger from the last game. The immediate picture is straightforward: he is still solving the left-back job for England, but every outing there is also another argument for why midfield is where he expects to end up.
