Danny Rose says Andy Robertson is the best left-back in Europe

England and Spurs player describes Scotland captain as a “freak of nature”
Andrew Robertson has become a first-team regular with Premier League leaders Liverpool. Picture: PAAndrew Robertson has become a first-team regular with Premier League leaders Liverpool. Picture: PA
Andrew Robertson has become a first-team regular with Premier League leaders Liverpool. Picture: PA

Tottenham and England left-back Danny Rose has hailed Andy Robertson as a “freak of nature” and insists the Scotland captain is now the best player in his position in Europe.

Rose, capped 29 times for England and a member of their squad which reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, says Liverpool’s Champions League winner Robertson now sets the standards 
he aspires to as an attacking left-back.

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“He’s been the best left-back in England and, maybe, Europe for the past two years,” said Rose.

“For me, he is the one I’m looking to catch, without a doubt. He is the best. Andy Robertson looks like a freak of nature. I watch him play and in every game he gives the same commitment. His consistency levels are extremely high. He is just brilliant.

“We played Hull City four or five years ago at White Hart Lane and Robertson was playing for Hull, as was Harry Maguire.

“I wouldn’t have noticed Robertson at that time, if I’m being honest, but he then moved to Liverpool and he has been the best left-back for them.”

Rose revealed he is also 
monitoring the progress of Kieran Tierney at Arsenal after the 22-year-old left-back’s £25 million move from Celtic last summer.

During a loan spell at 
Watford earlier in his career, 29-year-old Rose played under former Celtic manager
Brendan Rodgers and took note of his glowing praise of Tierney.

“I tried to watch the Celtic
games in the Champions League when they were on the television,” added Rose. “Brendan Rodgers said at that time that Kieran was one of the best in Europe.

“As soon as Brendan said that, then I took an interest in him. I feel very sorry for him this season as he’s had a bit of bad luck with injury. I do rate the two Scottish left-backs very highly but Robertson is the best.”

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Rose, currently on loan at Newcastle United, was speaking to former Scotland internationals Robert Snodgrass and Kris Boyd in the latest 
episode of their Lockdown 
Tactics podcast.

At the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, he reflects on his own battle with depression which he revealed publicly on the eve of the World Cup finals in Russia two years ago.

“I was with England and we had a media day,” recalled Rose. “The journalists were asking questions and one of the questions was what it meant to me to be here with the squad.

“I said that it meant the world to me because I had had a difficult year or 18 months with depression. I was playing well for Spurs but I got injured.

“Then my uncle took his 
own life because he suffered mental health problems. It just got too much for me.

“I wasn’t sleeping and wasn’t eating. I didn’t have a haircut for a year and didn’t shave for a year.

“When the story broke the next day after I had spoken out at the England media day, we had a game against Costa Rica. People were very positive towards me and I received text messages.

“The lads, manager and staff all offered their support and it was really overwhelming. I had dealt with it by that time and I thought I was past that stage of my life.

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“One of the Costa Rica players pulled me to the side at half-time and thanked me for what I’d done and said I’d helped him out massively. It was then I thought I might be able to help people.

“Even now, if I go out to eat, or go to the supermarket, I get people saying ‘thank you’ and it is just amazing. People will go out of their way to let you know that you have made their day or changed their life just because of something you’ve said.

“I might have thought it wasn’t a big deal, but I realise it was a big deal and I may have helped people along the way. People need to speak out. Do not be alone. The help is out there, trust me.”

The Lockdown Tactics is a brand new podcast, hosted by former Scotland stars Robert Snodgrass and Kris Boyd. Every week TLT will interview big names with the core focus being on Mental Health and Wellbeing.

It’s chosen charity partner is The Kris Boyd Charity.

To watch the full interview with Danny, go to YouTube and the various TLT social platforms. It will be available from noon today.

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