Barkley excluded from ‘well thought-out squad’
MANAGER Sam Allardyce insists Ross Barkley can earn an England recall, but stands by his decision to axe the Everton midfielder.
The 22-year-old was omitted from the new boss’s first squad as the Three Lions prepare to open their World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign in Slovakia on Sunday.
Allardyce dropped Barkley as he made five changes for his first squad since replacing Roy Hodgson, who named the Everton man in his final Euro 2016 squad this summer but did not play him in the tournament.
Barkley has scored two goals in his first four games for Everton this season, but Allardyce decided to recall Leicester’s Danny Drinkwater and hand a first callup to West Ham winger Michail Antonio instead.
He said: “It’s been a well thought-out squad. We have been in deep discussions and had to make some very difficult decisions, none more so than Ross Barkley. For him it’s disappointing. The door is always open for Ross, but at this moment I felt the squad I picked is right.
“It was much more difficult picking this squad than it was one in the Premier League. Hopefully the players will make it a lot easier or a lot more difficult, like the Ross Barkley decision. I hope every decision I make is questioned on the form of the player at the time.
“We made our mind up, all my staff. It’s not just me, I’m there to make the final decision, but we discussed every element over the last four to six weeks, particularly since the season started – what sort of pre-season they have had, what happened last season, the start they’ve had to this season.”
Jack Wilshere was also dropped while Marcus Rashford has been included in the England Under-21 squad, but Luke Shaw, Phil Jagielka and Theo Walcott earned recalls with Antonio the only new face in the squad that linked up at St George’s Park.
Allardyce will reveal his captain today with current incumbent Wayne Rooney named as a midfielder on the squad list. But Allardyce moved to clarify his playing position, although he remained tight-lipped on who will get the armband.
He added: “Should we say attacking midfielder or striker? Wayne’s position has changed at United and that’s the sort of position I am looking for him to play in. That is something I may consider changing, the format of the squad. “