Premier League

‘If I’m a player I’m concerned’

Ex-Man Utd defender Rio Ferdinand looks serious

Rio Ferdinand has raised his concerns over the latest England squad and questioned some of Gareth Southgate’s inclusions.

Ahead of the Nations League matches against Italy and Germany, England recently announced their latest squad, which had some notable omissions.

The likes of Jadon Sancho and James Maddison didn’t manage to make the cut, despite a promising start to the season.


England really need a mood reset from this most unwelcome international break


Man United’s Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have struggled for consistency this season, but they managed to make the cut in the latest squad.

Ferdinand thinks England could run into some problems if they are relying on players who aren’t playing week in week out.

He said on his FIVE YouTube channel: “It’s hard to get up and running.

“Fitness wise, game sharpness, game ready, it’s very hard to get it going, get any rhythm.

“They could possibly have three or four of them (in the squad).

“If I’m a player I’m concerned, I’m worried.”

Despite only starting in two Premier League matches this season it seems that Harry Maguire will get the nod to start against Italy on Friday evening.

One of the notable omissions from the latest squad was Jadon Sancho, who has started the season well for Man United with two goals.

Ferdinand thinks that the Man United winger has been quite hard done by.

He added: “He’s sitting there thinking what more do I have to do?

“He didn’t like him when he was on fire so he must be thinking that’s the problem with Jadon Sancho, there’s going to be a mental block.

“He’s going to have to work hard. If he gets in the squad now, Gareth Southgate’s going to have to do a lot of work mentally rebuilding him.

“Jadon will be thinking I’ve forced him to put me in here anyway but he isn’t going to play me and when he does play me he doesn’t really want to play me.”

One of the surprise inclusions in the side was West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, who has struggled to get going this season.

The 25-year-old made his England debut earlier this year after a superb season with West Ham which saw him score 12 goals.

He is yet to get off the mark this season though and will need a good run of games to cement his place in the squad ahead of the World Cup.

The biggest criticism often fired at Southgate is that he picks players on their reputation, rather than their club form.

With the World Cup looming in just a few months, this will be his last chance…

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