Micheal Dawson told Sky Sports News on Tuesday afternoon that it’s a ‘real surprise’ that West Ham favourite, Jesse Lingard, will start for England today.
Since January, Lingard has been riding a wave in West Ham colours and producing strong performance after strong performance.
But his goalscoring run at West Ham wasn’t enough for him to land him a place in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for Euro 2020.
Despite being snubbed, the quick-thinking playmaker will start for the Three Lions against Austria in a friendly tonight.
And such a call has left many baffled, including ex-England and Premier League defender, Dawson.
“I cannot answer that (the thinking behind Lingard to start),” said Dawson. “It’s a real surprise. The feeling you are feeling after not being picked.
“Then you are asked ‘do you want to stay around?’ Are you being tested? The seven that have been left out will be devastated.
“But to play (against Austria) I find that surprising. Maybe because there are a few injuries? But you have got 26 players.”
Well, Lingard cannot reverse Southgate’s call to not select him now, but he can make him regret his decision by producing a strong performance tonight.
West Ham fans saw the boyhood Manchester United fan rip it up on a weekly basis for them, and both clubs will be hoping he can find that goalscoring touch tonight.
And it also needs to be remembered that if there are any injuries, at right-back, in midfield or further up the field then Lingard will be hoping it’s his name that gets called up first.
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