Stuart Downing has called for Jesse Lingard to replace the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in the England squad ahead of Euro 2020.
Stuart Downing said: “I personally would probably go with Jesse Lingard, I think his form going into the back end of the season, getting goals, has certainly lifted West Ham into the European spots. I just think on form he deserves to go and I think he was very unlucky to be left out, to be honest, but I think with Trent [Alexander-Arnold] missing out we have lots of cover in that position so I would probably go with a more attack-minded player. Maybe Jesse Lingard or if not Ollie Watkins who can get goals.”
Lingard was given the option of leaving the England camp following Southgate’s decision not to select him in the final squad but the midfielder elected to stay with the camp for the remainder of the pre-tournament preparations. Lingard was a key member of England’s 2018 FIFA World Cup squad as Southgate led the Three Lions to the semi-finals and the England boss revealed last week he has total trust in the player.
Gareth Southgate said: “Jesse has done incredibly well to get back in the race, really. Going back to January, he was a million miles from being selectable for an England squad. I said in March he’d had a fabulous few weeks but you’d have to say he was a little fortunate because we were without four wide players at that time.
