Everton youngster Ross Barkley was not part of the England squad for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Sunday.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has suggested in The Daily Mail that Everton attacking midfielder Ross Barkley needs to step up his game after the international break.
The former Southampton midfielder has advised the 22-year-old to impress new England head coach Sam Allardyce and return to the Three Lions’ set-up.
Barkley, who is a very talented and promising young player, was not part of the England squad for Sunday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.
Former England international Redknapp has urged the Everton youngster to show Allardyce what he is capable of when Premier League action resumes this coming weekend.
“Barkley offers what no-one else does — the ability to run at pace and go past people in those central areas,” Redknapp wrote in The Daily Mail.
“When it is tight and congested in the middle — as it was against Slovakia on Sunday— you need someone who can dribble.
“It was a shame Barkley was left out of this squad as he has so much to give. Both he and Alli are exciting young talents that we need to get in this team.
“When the Premier League restarts after the international break, Barkley has to show Sam just what he is missing and give the manager no reason to leave him out of the squad again.”
Barkley’s omission from the England squad will have come as a surprise to many, but as Redknapp suggests, the youngster needs to step up his game and do his best to return to the Three Lions’ set-up.
The attacking midfielder has scored one goal and created seven chances in three Premier League appearances for Everton so far this season.
Everton will take on Sunderland away from home at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League next week.
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