Martin Keown optimistic over England centre-back options

Former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown has expressed his belief that there are is promising crop of English centre-backs who have the potential to be among the best in the world.

England's recent centre-back options have been regarded by many observers as some of the weakest that the national team have had since the likes of Keown, Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry were vying for a Three Lions spot over a decade ago.

However, Keown believes that Everton's John Stones, Arsenal's Calum Chambers and Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur could go on to be world-class performers in the future.

"Centre-backs are re-emerging now. There are good players coming through which is good news for Roy Hodgson," Keown told the Daily Star.

"There is lots of talk about Calum Chambers at Arsenal. But Tottenham have got Eric Dier, who I think is a great player. Spurs have played him at right back at times but he's a centre-half all day long for me. He could end up being the best of the bunch.

"There are others as well like John Stones at Everton. But I think Dier could end up being better than all of them. There's a good centre-half emerging there. He looks more comfortable playing there than at right-back."

Keown won 42 caps for England between 1992 and 2002.