Some England fans were left bewildered by a few of Gareth Southgate’s squad selections for the country’s upcoming Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands on June 6.
Jesse Lingard, Fabian Delph and Kieran Trippier earned call-ups, despite struggling for form during the 2018/19 season.
Lingard scored just four league goals, Delph failed to make Pep Guardiola’s matchday squad at times and Trippier even admitted he ‘could have done a lot better’ this term.
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Meanwhile, other in-form Premier League stars were snubbed.
talkSPORT.com looks at players who could count themselves unlucky after not making Southgate’s squad.
In the past, Southgate’s reason for not selecting James Maddison was because he didn’t fit into their formation, which was true. England’s 4-4-3 shape does not have room for a No.10.
However, since Brendan Rodgers’ appointment at Leicester, Maddison has excelled playing in a three-man midfield.
He has been a box-to-box midfielder, helping out the attack and defence. The Three Lions’ midfield lacks creativity, and that is something Maddison would have certainly brought.
Hayden played just five times up until Christmas before playing a crucial role in the second half of the season under Rafael Benitez as Newcastle avoided relegation.
Hayden, a former Arsenal trainee, is set to move back down south for family reasons and his performances have reportedly caught Tottenham’s eye.
In March, Benitez even tipped his midfielder for an England call-up, but Tottenham’s Eric Dier was chosen ahead of him.
Hughes was a regular starter in Watford’s FA Cup run, which ended with a 6-0 hammering by Manchester City in the final. He also started 31 of Watford’s 38 league games as they finished 11th.
Comfortable on the wing or in the middle, the 24-year-old could have slotted in seamlessly to the Three Lions’ squad.
If he maintains his form next season, an England call-up could be on the horizon.
With Trippier’s inconsistent form and a Champions League final with Tottenham just five days before England’s clash against the Netherlands, it was surprising to see Wan-Bissaka’s wait for a senior call-up go on.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a superb season with Palace, and his form has seen him linked with Manchester United, who are looking to replace departing defender Antonio Valencia.
No defender won tackles than Wan-Bissaka (129) in the 2018/19 Premier League season.
Coady played every minute of Wolves’ return to the Premier League as they finished seventh.
The centre-half’s distribution from the back would suit England’s style of play.
And with John Stones and Joe Gomez playing very little football recently, Coady could have been a welcome addition to the squad.