Big Sam has named his first England squad under his stewardship, but which five players will be most disappointed to miss out on selection?
England manager Sam Allardyce after the press conference
Sam Allardyce has selected his first England squad for their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier, away to Slovakia.
There has been plenty of speculation over who will get the nod from the new manager, and which players will be omitted. But who will be most disappointed to have missed out on 23-man squad? Let’s take a look at five players who have all staked big claims for selection for the squad, but have been overlooked by Allardyce.
Ross Barkley
Everton’s Ross Barkley
Barkley is perhaps the biggest shock omission from the squad. The 22-year-old Everton midfielder, who was controversially never brought off the bench in the England Euro 2016 campaign, has had a bright start to the Premier
League this year and shown form that could have earned him a recall for the national team. Allardyce watched from the stands as Barkley’s Everton beat Stoke 1-0 at the weekend, but the player obviously didn’t do enough on the day to convince Big Sam.
Mark Noble
West Ham’s Mark Noble
Mark Noble’s potential at national team level has been debated for many years now, but with former boss Sam Allardyce now in charge, Noble will be even more disappointed to miss out on this squad. Allardyce championed the central midfielder during their time together at West Ham, and often actually questioned why he had not received an England call-up at points throughout his tenure at the club. Those comments would have given Noble hope of a reunion with the manager to form part of Allardyce’s new England set-up, but, for the first squad selection at least, that hasn’t materialised.
Jermain Defoe
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe
Another player who has played under Allardyce in the past is Jermain Defoe, who was part of Sam’s most recent club side Sunderland. Defoe had been speaking in the days leading up to the squad announcement about his dream of getting an England recall from his ex-boss, but Defoe is obviously behind at least three other strikers in the pecking order. At 33, it’s possible that if a recall didn’t come the striker’s way soon then he may call time on his international career.
Marcus Rashford
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford
Unlike the other players in this list, Marcus Rashford has received an England call-up in some form, by being selected for the Under-21 squad. But, with the youngster proving what an impact he can make on a game by coming off the bench to win United’s game against Hull at the weekend, should the forward feel slightly disappointed to not be part of the full national squad?
Rashford has been limited to a substitute role at his club Manchester United, and so the plan is for him to play a more influential part in the under-21 matches, but does Rashford not form part of Allardyce’s best attacking options, even if he does have to start the game on the bench? He proved he could cut it at Euro 2016, with just a 20 minute spell at the end of the Wales match. Rashford will be disappointed to have the breaks put partially on his international career by Big Sam.
Jack Wilshere
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere
Wilshere’s selection for last summer’s Euros was a fairly controversial one, due to the lack of first team appearances that the midfielder made for the Gunners last season. However, since the new season has begun, Wilshere has played a larger part in his Arsenal side.
Of course the Premier League season has practically only just begun, but Wilshere can consider himself unlucky to be overlooked, as he does offer some slightly different attributes to the rest of the midfielders in the squad. Arsenal may have made a mixed start to their league campaign, but Wilshere is back from long-term injury and will be disappointed to have missed out on England selection.
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