NEWCASTLE cult hero Nikos Dabizas has named a surprise Championship star as the best man to keep England superstar Jude Bellingham quiet when Greece visit Wembley.
The Three Lions return to international duty on Thursday to welcome their Nations League group leaders after both sides kicked their campaign off with victories over Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Bellingham, 21, is set to play under interim manager Lee Carsley for the first time since Gareth Southgate’s dismissal as he missed last month’s international break due to a foot injury.
The superstar midfielder is expected to start under Carsley, which means Greece manager Ivan Jovanovic will have his hands full in his first big match in charge since taking over in August.
However, Dabizas, 51, believes Cardiff ace Manolis Siopis could be the one to stop the Real Madrid star for the Greeks, who have never beaten England in all of their nine matches – losing seven.
The Euro 2004 legend claims Siopis, 30, who helped Trabzonspor win their first title in 28 years two seasons ago, could thrive in this unenviable task thanks to his speed, power and stamina.
However, the former defender insists Jovanovic shouldn’t rely only on the defensive midfielder to neutralise Bellingham, who registered a staggering 23 goals and 13 assists in 42 games last season with Real.
Dabizas exclusively told SunSport: “In terms of direct marking, Manolis Siopis is a footballer who has the necessary combo of speed and power as well as stamina so that for a long period of time in the game to be pressing in his marking [against Bellingham].
“But under no circumstance should we opt for a game of individual marking. That [marking] should be based on teamwork that could create a situation of “delivery-receipt” when a player arrives in your area so that you can face him in your individual marking.
“From then on when the opponent moves in a different area then the player who is responsible for that area can take him on.
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“I believe the three central midfielders will be able to give us that necessary cohesion and with the characteristics that they will have be able to create that concrete midfield both inside and outside our area where most of the game will be played.
“But I believe Manolis Siopis can serve very well that part of direct marking in midfield. And it depends of course on what kind of formation Bellingham will be placed on by Carsley because, as we said, he didn’t have him in the previous games.
“Maybe he will use him in a role on the wings. There’s also Cole Palmer who is doing great things with Chelsea and I believe he will start. He’s taken [Phil] Foden’s place. I believe he will start with Palmer.
“The only thing left is to see how he handles [Kobbie] Mainoo’s absence. It’s a puzzle you need to turn around and fill up with the characteristics of the players he has at his disposal.
“And what kind of strategy he will choose. But I believe it is very important to have a concrete midfield in the game with England.”
Dabizas insists this is going to be a very tough game for Greece, who haven’t qualified for a major tournament in ten years.
However, the ex-Leicester ace suggested his country could upset England with the right level of ball possession and adequate transition.
Dabizas added: “I believe, first of all, the level of our ball possession will be a very basic criterion in regards to how the game will develop. The higher level of possession we have the better we will be able to absorb pressure from England.
“That is the key point. To be able to have high possession percentages so that we can create the necessary conditions in transition as well, because I think it will be difficult to go to game management in a possession-based match with high percentages from our side, and certainly a lot will depend on transition.
“That is why I say again, the players’ characteristics are very important so that they can maximise the specific conditions we will have to face in that match.
“Ball possession and adequate transition so that we can create conditions to threaten England’s national team.”
