Victor Wanyama's arrival at Tottenham has had a negative effect on Eric Dier, according to Jamie Redknapp.
Dier was converted into a central midfielder by Mauricio Pochettino last season and subsequently established himself as a key player for both club and country.
But Dier produced a lacklustre display in England's 0-0 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday night and struggled to impose himself on the game, having recently returned to fitness from a hamstring problem.
The 22-year-old is facing fierce competition for places at White Hart Lane this term and Redknapp is adamant the threat of Wanyama taking his place on a regular basis has knocked Dier's confidence.
"Eric Dier is not the player he was last season," Redknapp told the Daily Mail.
"There was almost a strut to him last year with Tottenham and England, but I feel Victor Wanyama has had an effect on him.
"There's that little competition for places and he is slightly lacking in confidence."
Dier made a series of errors for Gareth Southgate's side on Tuesday night and was fortunate to see Joe Hart in inspired form after playing a woefully short back pass towards the goalkeeper.
Dier's inclusion ahead of Wayne Rooney represented a marked effort to add more impetus to the Three Lions' ranks but Redknapp believes the Spurs man was too keen to play it safe in Ljubljana.
"He was caught twice with back passes in the first half.
"When you're playing well, your first thought is to play the ball forward but he was trying to take the safe option.
"He'll get through this and he could be England's captain one day, but no doubt it's made a difference to his game," Redknapp added.
Spurs travel to West Brom on Saturday afternoon and Dier's potential return to the side would be likely to need Pochettino to move away from the 4-1-4-1 formation that has served the north Londoners so well in recent weeks.
