Saint Claude’s proving worth
CHERRIES PAIR IN ENGLAND FRAME
CLAUDE PUEL is starting to win over his early season doubters at St Mary’s.
Some Southampton insiders were not impressed with the start the Frenchman (below) made on the south coast after the dynamic styles of his two predecessors – Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman.
But Saints have lost just one in six in the Premier League and will look to build on that today against Hull City. THERE are TWO Bournemouth players on England’s radar – Jack Wilshere and right-back Adam Smith.
Wilshere, on loan at the Vitality Stadium from Arsenal, has a good chance of being in the squad, which is announced tonight, for Friday’s match against Scotland.
The midfielder, 24, has not been part of the Three Lions set up this season after being dropped following Euro 2016.
That prompted him to join Bournemouth to PAUL HETHERINGTON play regularly in the Premier League and improve his chances of an England recall.
And his decision is close to paying off. He is back in the frame and was watched against Sunderland yesterday by England assistant boss Sammy Lee.
And the Daily Star Sunday can reveal that another Bournemouth player being assessed by Lee was Smith, 25. He is unlikely to be in the STEVE MILLAR squad at this stage, unless there is an injury to Tottenham’s Kyle Walker or Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne.
But he has impressed England’s interim boss Gareth Southgate, who was at the Burnley vCrystal Palace match yesterday.
He was there to watch Burnley keeper Tom Heaton and centre-back Michael Keane.
Wembley wins against Scotland and Spain four days later would put Southgate in pole position to be offered the job on a permanent basis.