Baines set to return against City

We only really see the value of Baines when he's out of the team.

Since Leighton was dropped by England without a word of thanks, his various replacements have taken part in some of the worst England displays in living memory. Now down among the dead men, England are disorganised at the back, utterly devoid of ideas in midfield and toothless rather than ruthless up front.

What happened to the days when a new manager would come in and immediately shake things up with the introduction of a couple of new faces, players who might not have been considered by their predecessors? Southgate, much like Allardyce is sticking to the same tired old faces from the same three or four clubs. Even Vardy can't get a start in the worst national side in decades.

England need a Koeman, a manager who will shake things up a bit, bring in new faces and inject new life into the national team. That can also include getting rid of players who have failed to make the grade and bringing in one or two old faces like Baines, much as Koeman has done by bringing in the older, wiser Williams to help steady our back line.

Leighton Baines may be far more influential than some of us think, in more ways than we can imagine. I could be wrong and readily acknowledge the fact but it's just a thought. Hope he makes it back for us on Saturday.