Ox: Big Sam snub was wake-up call

Arsenal star raring to go after injury setbacks

ALEX OXLADEChamberlain was on the Greek island of Mykonos when England’s quest to reach Russia and the 2018 World Cup began, wondering what had gone wrong.

The Arsenal midfielder had worked his way back to fitness following two bad knee injuries and his confidence had been restored on the back of a full pre-season but the next step — a call-up into Sam Allardyce’s squad for the trip to Slovakia — never followed.

There was no explanation from Allardyce as to why Oxlade- Chamberlain never made what proved to be his one and only squad but he made the silence work to his advantage. Sitting in the sun was ‘a kick up the backside’, a realisation that nothing can be taken for granted.

‘I was disappointed,’ says Oxlade- Chamberlain. ‘I had hoped to be involved.

‘I felt strong so I was disappointed. You shouldn’t just be able to walk into an England squad. But having been involved in a fair few, especially under Roy Hodgson, I guess it was a bit different for me to be left out.

‘I’ve been playing for England since I was 18. I wouldn’t say I took it all for granted but it just seemed to be a part of my season, to play for Arsenal and to play for England. So to be available and to be feeling good and fit — to not be in, yeah, it was a jolt.

‘It was a wake-up call. It made me realise how special it is and it is something I want to keep happening. I am not young now, I am 23, so you need to be performing and playing as much as you can to deserve a chance to go and play for England.’

This is a big season for Oxlade-Chamberlain. During Arsenal’s preseason tour in Califor- nia, Arsene Wenger said the time for him had come to step up and fulfil his potential, but at the same time questioned whether he had belief in his own ability. Oxlade-Chamberlain (below), who five years ago today scored a hat-trick for England Under 21s in Iceland, has spoken with Wenger about how he can become more consistent but doesn’t feel the need to follow the lead of Jack Wilshere, who joined Bournemouth on loan to get regular games. Wilshere’s move was, he admits, ‘a surprise’ but he is not prepared to consider the idea that he might have to look elsewhere to improve his career. In the same way he has fought to get back into the England squad, he is going to do the same at his club. ‘There are times in your career when people doubt you,’ added Oxlade-Chamberlain, who says the squad have ‘a lot of trust’ in interim coach Gareth Southgate. ‘I’d be lying if I said there weren’t times when I hadn’t lost a bit of confidence.

‘I have learnt now to get on with things. But do I believe in myself? Yeah. Of course I do.’

Few would doubt he is due a change of luck. Having damaged his knee against Barcelona in February, his dream of going to Euro 2016 was ended by a freak injury in May. It is the second tournament he has missed owing to a lack of fitness.

‘I was trying for a bit of extra fitness,’ explained OxlaideChamberlain. ‘But I slipped badly, I did the splits and I ended up crawling off the pitch. It was gutting but we are here now. It’s good to be back.’ MARCUS RASHFORD sent England’s Under 21s on their way to Kazakhstan with a message to ‘finish the job’ as they aim to secure their place at Euro 2017 tonight. England need three points from their two remaining Group 9 games to qualify for next summer’s tournament.

ENGLAND: Woodman; Holgate, Chambers, Holding, Chilwell; WardProwse, Chalobah; Redmond, LoftusCheek, Baker; Abraham.