Grip: Sutton better in deeper role

England number two Tord Grip believes Chris Sutton’s best position is a defensive midfield role.

The versatile Celtic star is best known for his goals over the years but if he gets his chance on the international stage it is likely to be much deeper.

“We know Chris Sutton can play,” Grip told the Press Association. “I saw him several times at Blackburn where he played up front, sometimes he went back to centre-back and now he is playing in midfield.

“He can play in an offensive role but I think the best role for him would be in a defensive role in central midfield because he was very good there, especially in the second half on Saturday.”

Grip watched Sutton and Alan Thompson inspire Celtic to victory over Rangers at the weekend.

His report to Sven-Goran Eriksson was obviously a glowing one as he revealed that either he or the England manager would make the trip to Edinburgh on January 18 to watch them again at Hearts.

“They play Hearts away next weekend and one of us will be coming up for the match,” he said.

England travel for friendlies with Portugal on February 18 and Sweden on March 31 and Eriksson’s right-hand man has hinted that both Sutton and Thompson will be named in the squad.

“Sven has been very impressed with them both,” Grip said. “They have done very well in Europe because they were in the UEFA Cup final last season and again this season so they can play at the top.

“Sven’s likely to look at different players and I think we will do that because we know what we have got so far.”

Grip feels the fact that Thompson is left-sided and used to playing in a diamond formation is also to his advantage.

“First of all, Alan Thompson is playing on the left-hand side and has a great left foot,” he said. “Celtic play in some sort of a diamond formation and it’s not too difficult to put him into our formation.

“He has played as a wing-back and now in a 4-4-2 and a diamond so the step up won’t be too difficult.”