Peter Beardsley admits Roy Hodgson faced a no-win situation over Andros Townsend

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The former Newcastle United midfielder insists Townsend has been outstanding but stresses that there are no hard feelings over his England omission.

Former Newcastle United and England star Peter Beardsley has admitted to 888sport that England manager Roy Hodgson faced something of a no-win situation when considering whether to select Andros Townsend for Euro 2016.

Townsend enjoyed a run of impressive form in the latter half of last season after joining the Magpies from Tottenham Hotspurs for £12 million in January.

The 24-year-old scored four goals in 13 appearances after his arrival and was one of the stars of the show at St. James’ Park as Rafael Benitez’s side nearly pulled off a dramatic escape from relegation.

That good form led to speculation that Townsend would earn a recall to the England squad for Euro 2016, but after being named in the provisional 26-man group he was one of three players cut in the final announcement.

Both the decision to include Townsend in the first place and the decision to cut him received criticism from some sections of the England support, and Beardsley, who currently works with the Newcastle academy, believes that there was no way Hodgson could win in terms of his selection.

Beardsley, speaking exclusively to 888sport, said: “Obviously I’m biased but when he came to us he was outstanding for us.

“But Roy Hodgson has been good to Andros and they have a good relationship so who’s to say he won’t be involved in the first qualifier in September.

“Roy can only take twenty three players and he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t, so ultimately the only way Roy can avoid such talk is if he takes us to the final.”

Townsend may find it even more difficult to force his way into Hodgson’s reckoning next season if he stays with Newcastle in the Championship, with second-tier players barely ever selected for Three Lions duty.

However, he will be hoping that if he begins next season in the same way that he ended the last, he will have a role to play in England’s 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Read the full 888sport interview with Peter Beardsley, including his thoughts on why England don’t need Eric Dier and why England MUST go all-out attack against Iceland.