Tottenham star Danny Rose says he would be fuming if he was Southampton defender Ryan Bertrand

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Tottenham star Danny Rose was a controversial World Cup pick ahead of Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Danny Rose has told The Mail that Ryan Bertrand has every right to be frustrated he is not in the England squad.

Rose was a controversial pick after playing only eight Premier League games this season, while Bertrand played 35.

The unexpected and successful conversion of Fabian Delph and Ashley Young to left-back roles increased competition for a World Cup place and Gareth Southgate chose Rose ahead of Bertrand.

Speaking in a very candid interview, Rose admits he is fortunate and says if he was in Bertrand’s shoes he would be very unhappy.

He said: “It’s fair to say I’m the luckiest player to be in the squad, given the number of minutes I’ve had on the pitch and the year I’ve had.

“Had I been in Ryan Bertrand’s shoes, and missed out, I would have been very angry. I know I’ve been very lucky and I’m going to do everything I can to repay the manager.”

Bertrand will be wondering what more he could have done to earn a spot, after helping the Saints avoid relegation.

He can console himself knowing he was simply unlucky, but at 28-years-old, this was meant to be his time.

Bertrand will have to dig deep this summer to pick himself up, while Rose is under pressure to prove manager Gareth Southgate right if he gets the nod to start in Russia.