Chris Sutton’s response to Southgate comments about Celtic star Scott Sinclair

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Chris Sutton has criticised Gareth Southgate for his comments on Scott Sinclair.

Former Celtic player-turned football pundit Chris Sutton has criticised England Gareth Southgate for his comments on Scott Sinclair.

Southgate told Sky Sports recently that he sees Sinclair as a good player, but not good enough to represent the England national team.

Sinclair has been a top player for Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic, and Southgate’s comments suggests that he is not considering him based on his performance, but because of the league he plays in.

Sutton believes it is “bizarre” to dismiss the Celtic winger’s abilities. He finds it “weird” that Southgate talks about having quality players and at the same time picking players who really shouldn’t be there.

The former Blackburn Rovers striker admits that Sinclair is not on the same level of Raheem Sterling or Marcus Rashford, but he certainly deserves to be in the squad.

Players like Fabian Delph, Jack Livermore, Jesse Lingard, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are being picked while the in-form Sinclair, who has proved his quality in Champions League games, has been left out.

Sutton says Sinclair is not worthy of dismissal and Southgate’s comments shows his arrogance towards the Scottish game.

“If I was Sinclair, I’d be most unhappy. It’s a public slap in the face and it was unnecessary. Actually, it was just downright dismissive towards Scotland,” wrote Sutton for The Daily Record.

“What makes it even more bizarre to dismiss the Celtic winger’s abilities are some of the comments that have been made by the England manager over the past week or so.

“His frank admission last week that there are players in his current England squad who “do not deserve to be there”, with injuries having opened the door to some who have barely figured his season was even more incredible.

I” actually don’t mind Gareth. I find him quite a decent fella, but the comments about Sinclair not being up to the levels when he’s talking at the same time about picking guys who shouldn’t be there is weird.

“Sinclair isn’t Lionel Messi. And, like I’ve said, he’s not as good as a Sterling or a Rashford. But he’s not worthy of dismissal either and the fact he has been is a surefire sign of arrogance towards the Scottish game.”