Southgate regrets Smalling slight ahead of possible recall

Gareth Southgate has expressed regret over his treatment of Chris Smalling and raised the possibility that the defender’s lengthy England absence could end, thanks to his Italian renaissance with Roma.

The Manchester United defender, who has not played for the national team in more than two years, has excelled on loan in Serie A this season and Southgate flew out to see him in December.

Both parties have been keen to rule out any potential bad blood, after Southgate expressed doubts over Smalling’s ability to play out from the back.

In November 2017, Southgate had said: “I have huge respect for Chris. He is a player playing at a big club. We want to play in a certain way and the players I have brought in, I want to see using the ball from the back and building it up in a certain way.” Smalling later responded: “I’m as good a defender as anyone.”

However, speaking after the Nations League draw in Amsterdam this week, the England manager praised the defender’s form in Italy, adding that he “probably regretted the way” his previous comments came across as “criticism for Chris”. “It was my fault and it was unfair on him,” Southgate said.

A fourth central defender slot for England’s Euro 2020 squad would appear to be up for grabs and, on Smalling’s chances of being called up for the Italy friendly later this month, Southgate said: “I’ve never ruled anybody out. I think that would be wrong.

“He’s done well in Italy. He’s playing at another big club. He was obviously playing at a big club before. We’re watching everybody because we’ve got to make sure we make the right decision.”

The pair spoke on the phone when Smalling was initially left out of the squad. “I explained what I explained to everybody,” Southgate said. “Of course, because of the way it came out, there was little point. I wasn’t going to say anything that hadn’t already been said.”