Based on this season’s form, should Newcastle captain Lascelles be playing for England ahead of Everton’s Michael Keane?
Harry Kane of England scores their first goal from the penalty spot during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Group F Qualifier against Lithuania.
England concluded their 2018 World Cup qualifying group in rarely uninspiring fashion with a 1-0 victory in Lithuania, having already confirmed their place in Russia next summer by beating Slovenia by the same scoreline in their previous outing.
A Harry Kane penalty sealed the three points and cemented the Three Lions’ place at the top of the table, although it took some sharp reflexes from goalkeeper Jack Butland to keep a clean-sheet as Michael Keane almost put the ball into his own net.
Lithuania’s Arturas Zulpa (L) vies with England’s defender Michael Keane (C) during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match.
Mistakes like that happen in football and Butland saved Keane from being left red-faced, but it was also the latest in a series of below par performances from the defender since his summer switch to Everton from Burnley.
The Toffees as a team have struggled, but the 24-year-old has been part of a back line that has conceded 12 Premier League goals – only Crystal Palace and West Ham United have let in more – and have also been on the end of a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Atalanta and 2-2 draw at home to Apollon Limassol in the Europa League.
Keane earned his move to Goodison Park after an impressive campaign with the Clarets in 2016/17, but based on form this term alone is there a case that Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles is more worthy of an international call-up?
Jamaal Lascelles of Newcastle United celebrates after he scores the winning goal during the Premier League match against Stoke City.
Named Magpies skipper aged 22 ahead of their year in the Championship following relegation, Lascelles lead them to promotion at the first time of asking and has been widely praised for keeping that momentum going into the top tier.
A defence marshalled by the 23-year-old have conceded six gals during the same period, a record only bettered by the top three and Burnley.
England manager Gareth Southgate will understandably want to create some sort of consistency in his selection and won’t want to be chopping and changing his personnel based solely on brief rises and falls in form, but if Lascelles continues to outshine Keane on the domestic stage then the 47-year-old should be thinking very carefully about who he wants at the back in Russia.
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