Jake’s no toxic taxi yob – he’s my model Lion

midfielder ditched a family holiday flight at the airport to join the last England squad as a reserve.

Southgate said: “It’s very straightforward for me. We’ve played Jake in several matches and he’s done a job for the team.

“In November, we left him out and he was just about to board a plane. He left the family at the airport.

“He came in, he did really well for us against Brazil and Germany, and I think that has to carry some weight when you are building the spirit and culture around your team. That doesn’t mean he is guaranteed to go in the summer, but I think it justifies him staying in our squad. He has been an important part of building what we want to build in terms of togetherness and spirit.

“That is the sort of example of sacrificing what you are doing for the team that I think is important.

Snubbed

“I know when I pick Jake it is going to get a certain sort of reaction. But there is a specific reason for why we have done it this time in particular.”

Livermore was given the nod over Chelsea star Danny Drinkwater, who snubbed a call-up to England’s last squad in November. And he also beat in-form Newcastle star Jonjo Shelvey to the cut leaving Alan Shearer unimpressed at the Toon star being overlooked.

Southgate added: “I think it is an important message for the group about when you are left out and have disappointment – first of all, there is opportunity to come back in.

“Secondly, we want you to take that opportunity and respond in the right way, and who knows what might happen?

“I went to the 2002 World Cup in Japan where Trevor Sinclair was a second standby player – and he was in our 1-0 win against Argentina.

“So it’s a message to the group as much as it is to Jake.”