“It’s Ridiculous, he should be in that squad!”-Michael Dawson & Paul Merson blasts Southgate’s decision to leave out in-form West Ham star James Ward Prowse from England squad as they suggest favouritism and bias from Three Lions boss
Paul Merson has called the decision to leave James Ward-Prowse out of the England squad “ridiculous” after his start to the season for West Ham.
Gareth Southgate opted to leave the Irons midfielder out of his squad for games against Ukraine and Scotland despite his impressive form since making the switch to the London Stadium, with Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Henderson preferred by the Three Lions boss.
Both Merson and Michael Dawson were left surprised by Southgate’s decision not to pick the 28-year-old for the September fixtures, especially considering the lack of football played by Phillips this season.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (2 September), Dawson said: “I look at James Ward-Prowse in that and think is Kalvin Phillips playing? No. Jordan Henderson left to go to Saudi Arabia and I think he’s the biggest one. He must wonder how he’s not in any squads.
“He’s always one that probably gets the call going keep doing what you’re doing but he’s been doing this for a really long time. I feel for him that he misses of because of probably Kalvin Phillips. We all know what Gareth is, he’s very very loyal to his players that have been tried and trusted for him and never let him down.”
Paul Merson quickly added that he thought the midfielder’s exclusion was “ridiculous.”
It must be incredibly frustrating for Ward-Prowse to see players who are barely stepping foot on a pitch for their club sides constantly pip him to England action as it genuinely feels like there is little more he can do to catch Southgate’s eye.
But from a selfish point of view, the Hammers may not mind the fact their new midfield signing will get a couple of weeks off and a bit of a rest so early in the season as it massively reduces the chance of him picking up an injury during the international break.
Furthermore, it allows David Moyes the opportunity to work a bit more with the midfielder on the training ground after he missed a portion of pre-season with the Hammers while they completed the deal to sign him from Southampton.
So far this season there hasn’t been any sense that Ward-Prowse is still gelling with his new side in East London and if he continues the form he has begun the season with there is no doubt that he’ll be on Southgate’s radar for the October international break.
