Michail Antonio expresses disappointment with England manager Gareth Southgate for his decision not to include James Ward-Prowse in the national squad. The former Southampton midfielder has been in excellent form since joining West Ham in August, with two goals and seven assists in just ten appearances. Despite this, Southgate chose not to call up the 28-year-old for England’s matches against Australia and Italy.
Criticism has arisen over Southgate’s choice of Jordan Henderson, who recently transferred to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq and faced jeers from some fans at Wembley.
Additionally, Kalvin Phillips, who has had limited playing time with Manchester City since his £42 million move from Leeds, continues to be a regular selection for Southgate.
Ward-Prowse, with eleven caps for his country, last featured for England during a lackluster Nations League match against Italy at Molineux last summer. Antonio, his teammate, believes that Ward-Prowse deserved a place in the squad, noting that his consistent performances should have earned him a call-up. Antonio emphasizes the importance of rewarding players when they are performing at their best and questions Southgate’s preference for players who may not be actively playing.