England manager Gareth Southgate has said that club form is a ‘factor’ in being selected for the Three Lions squad amid criticism for leaving out certain Leicester City players. Both Maddison and Barnes have just a single international cap while James Justin and Luke Thomas are said to have caught the eye of the England boss. And Southgate has hinted that continuing their good form could be key in earning themselves a place in the World Cup squad at the end of the year.
Gareth Southgate said: “In terms of selection that’s always a difficult conundrum because we have players who we know have performed well in an England shirt. There’s got to be some level of scrutiny on how people play with their clubs because that’s got to be a factor in it and then, not so much for this week, but who’s the opponent, who’s best suited to play against the opponent. So, it is a complicated thing and I know everybody has a view on who we should and shouldn’t be picking. In the end we need the best players possible playing at their best level to give ourselves the best chance of winning.”
Southgate also said that the position the players play could impact on their chance of getting into the squad. He Hinted that attacking players such as Maddison and Barnes have a harder task.
Gareth Southgate added: “Sometimes it depends on competition for positions. We’ve left some forward players out who haven’t been in good form but there’s direct replacements, experienced replacements for those players. It is a complicated decision.”
One thing that could help City players is their ability to adapt to different formations, something which Brendan Rodgers uses within the City squad. Maddison has recently found himself in a wider position but has still been able to make an impact, something which may catch Southgate’s eye.
Gareth Southgate added: “We have tactically adaptable players and I think the games do demand that. I think it’s better when your basic principles are pretty consistent and ours are, whatever system we play, the patterns of build-ups, the runs we ask to make, the numbers of players we get high up the pitch are actually quite similar. How we get there and how we defend is a tiny bit different, but it’s always about the players being in a position on the field that they’re comfortable in and that they’re used to being in and that gives them the best chance of bringing their club form into their international shirt.”
