Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has attributed Ezri Konsa’s incredible rise this season to John Terry.
The 23-year-old, who stands six feet tall, has been one of Villa’s standout performers and arguably their best defender. In the Premier League, he has been averaging 1.3 blocks per match, the most in his squad, and is only being dribbled past 0.1 times a game (via WhoScored).
Konsa has performed so well this term that some, including ex-Tottenham player Jamie O’Hara, feel he was unlucky to miss out on Gareth Southgate’s England squad for this round of World Cup qualifiers.
Who is better, Konsa or Mings?
Konsa!
Mings!
Whatever the case, it has still been a good campaign for Konsa, and Hendrie believes part of that is down to the influence Villa assistant coach Terry has had on the former Brentford centre-back.
“He [Terry] guides that defensive area. I’ve seen the difference with Konsa, how better and how much he’s come on and how much his game has come on,” Hendrie told FFC in an exclusive interview. “You know, people sometimes don’t understand and don’t realise what JT would bring into that defensive structure – he would have a big say on how they play.”
Should Konsa eventually be called up to the England squad, then the Charlton Athletic academy graduate could find himself competing against the likes of Villa team-mate Tyrone Mings, Harry Maguire and John Stones, with all three central defenders currently a part of the Three Lions squad.