I FEEL LUCKY TO BE IN THE SQUAD... AND IF I WAS RYAN BERTRAND I’D BE GUTTED
DANNY ROSE admits he is the luckiest player in England’s World Cup squad – and says axed Ryan Bertrand is entitled to feel very angry about his omission.
In minutes on the pitch this season, Rose has played the equivalent of just 16 full matches for club and country – including only 10 Premier League appearances.
Meanwhile, Southampton captain Bertrand played 40 games and featured prominently in the qualifying campaign.
Tottenham full-back Rose said: “I think it’s fair to say I’m the luckiest player to be in the squad – not in terms of ability, but the number of minutes I’ve had on the pitch and the past year I’ve had.
“Had I been in Ryan Bertrand’s shoes I would have been very angry, so I know I’ve been very lucky and I’m going to do everything I can to repay the manager.”
Rose feared he would miss the cut, after a nine-month lay-off with a knee injury in 2017 and then a calf strain, costing him another four weeks on the sidelines in April.
But Southgate chose the Spurs defender and Manchester United veteran Ashley Young ahead of 19-cap Bertrand.