Djed Spence made his England debut on Tuesday evening against Serbia as the Tottenham Hotspur defender’s rise continues.
Spence has taken Destiny Udogie’s place in the team at Tottenham, showing just how good the 24-year-old has been this season.
The defender’s rise over the last year has been seriously inspirational, having gone from being out of Tottenham Hotspur’s plans to an England international.
Rio Ferdinand has been so impressed with the Spurs star and has made a big claim about him ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Rio Ferdinand names Djed Spence as England’s best one-vs-one defender
Ferdinand believes that Djed Spence is now England’s best one-versus-one defender and is backing him to go to the World Cup next summer.
Spence made his England debut against Serbia, coming off the bench in the Three Lions’ 5-0 win on Tuesday evening.
The former Manchester United star is now backing Spence to make Thomas Tuchel’s squad and take Kyle Walker’s place.
Asked about whether he would take Walker to the World Cup, Ferdinand told Rio Presents: “If you’re going to play three centre backs, I would, but if you aren’t, then I wouldn’t.
“I think Djed Spence is primed and ready to take over the Kyle Walker role. He can play right and left back, and if you play right of the three, he’s so quick he can play right of the three.
“He is the number one one-versus-one defender in the England squad right now – no one comes near him.”
Recently, Spence signed a new contract with Tottenham, and it was thoroughly deserved given his hard work over the past year.
Djed Spence reacts to making England debut vs Serbia
Spence has admitted that making his England debut against Serbia was the ‘proudest day’ of his life, having dreamt about the moment for so long.
Spence wrote on his Instagram account: “Today is arguably the greatest and proudest day of my life. Honoured to make my England debut. A day I’ve dreamt of all my life and now has become a reality. God is the greatest!”
Spurs legend Harry Kane presented him with his legacy cap after the game and hailed him for the struggles he went through to become an England player.
“We had a new debut today. I asked to do this because I saw this player three or four years ago at Tottenham, and he had to go through a lot, he had to keep his head up, he had to work hard, and now he’s an England player,” said Kane.
“He fully deserves this. I’m a little bit emotional because I know how much it takes to get here, and I saw what it was like; it was tough for you. Credit to you, your family, everyone involved, you deserve this one.”