James Ward Prowse can be disappointed in being left out of the England squad especially when he sees some of those who have been included.

James Ward Prowse has not been chosen for the England squad for the upcoming games although for Saints fans it will be a blessing is disguise as it means that he will hopefully be fit and raring to go after the break and determined to push his way into the squad for the summer if he can continue his rich vein of form.

But he will be disappointed as there have been those chosen who have done far less than our man.

I can understand why Dele Alli has been included despite only just returning from injury, yes he hasn't done much for the past couple of months because of that, but his talent and previous form warrant him coming straight back in, no it is those who can't make the first team for their respective clubs that puzzle me when they are included.

Ruben Loftus Cheek for one, although he made an impression for Crystal Palace last season starting 21 Premier league games plus another as sub, for Chelsea this he has been a bit part player, starting only once and making 14 appearances off the bench totalling only 430 minutes on the pitch, that is the equivalent to around 4.75 games.

For over a third of the games Chelsea have played in the League he has not made the bench and his only start came over 4 months ago.

I have nothing against Loftus Cheek, but he is not exactly a form player and barely started a game in any competition let alone the Premier League, surely this sends out the wrong sort of message to young aspiring England players and that message is it is better to sit on a Big Six Club's benchfor your International prospects than actually be playing football regularly in the Premier League, when the England manager seems to pick players based on the size of their salary rather than what they are actually doing on the pitch, that tells you why the game is going to the dogs.

Likewise Ross Barkley, in starting 10 Premier League games for Chelsea and 12 off the bench he has a little more game time with 975 minutes, but only 342 of those have come since the turn of the year.

Declan Rice is another who should not have been in ahead of JWP, he has a bit more experience than Loftus Cheek and has been in the press because he has turned bis back on the Republic of Ireland with whom he has won 3 caps, but because they were all friendly appearances that enables him to turn his back on the republic and jump camp to the England squad.

Is that grounds to pick him ahead of Ward Prowse who is truly the form player at the moment amongst the England midfield hopefuls ?

Fabian Delph is also in, a player who has managed just 725 minutes in the Premier League out of a total of 2,700 he could have played for Manchester City, has played only 10 minutes since Boxing Day and at present can't even get in the squad let alone warm the bench.

Sadly this England squad is predictable, play for a big club and you get in the squad, we suspected that last year when Ryan Bertrand was dropped for the World Cup and now we know it.

It is time that England places were determined by playing games and being in form, not because of the club you play for, too many in this squad are not first choices at their club, that is wrong.

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Jordan Pickford (Everton)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Leicester City), Michael Keane (Everton), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Chelsea), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)

Photo: Action Images

JDawg added 15:28 - Mar 13 Has always been the way and is getting worse and worse. How many games did Alli and Alexander-Arnold play before they got their first cap? A handful at most. I remember Clyne struggled to get game time for England when he was at Southampton. As soon as he moved to Liverpool he was first choice right back!
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underweststand added 15:32 - Mar 13 Well not a surprise - or was it ? Yes Gareth..JWP hasn't played a lot this season, but he is on better form than many of those you've chosen instead....What was that about choosing a player whose on form. Since January Prowsie has scored against a Leicester side which included your wonderful CB Harry McGuire, put a scorcher past your first choice keeper, and two top-rated free-kicks against World class goalies...so are we supposed to understand why you think he's not good enough to play in World Cup qualifiers against two dead-beat sides? Same old excuse..but if he was playing for a top four side he'd be first on the team sheet -on his present form. The remainder of my thoughts would be censored on this site.... **!!#**? /¤¤# F

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HythePeer added 15:36 - Mar 13 "Sadly this England squad is predictable, play for a big club and you get in the squad, " 32% are not in a top 6 club.
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petedoors1 added 15:56 - Mar 13 No different today than it was when Matt Le Tissier was at the height of his top form. If Matt had gone to a top 4 club he would have played in every England game. Still England's loss is Southampton's gain and he will be fit and ready to play Brighton.
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A1079 added 16:29 - Mar 13 In one respect I am pleased because we need him fit and others, but I appreciate that that is a purely selfish view and from a national perspective I am sure he will be disappointed. I would agree that in the past there has been a big club syndrome for selection at national level but on the whole I think Gareth Southgate has been more dispassionate. Like all these things, he is never going to be able to please everyone. Media attention is a big factor and getting recognised with them. Like any agenda, they unfortunately have an influence. If JWP and any others at Saints should ever be considered worthy of an international call up the media will first suggest they need to move to another club. Anyway, JWP and others left out (be it Saints or elsewhere), etc can only do the best they can for whom they play for and hopefully we will be the beneficiaries at club level.

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BoondockSaint added 17:35 - Mar 13 Average players from big clubs=over 50 years of failure.
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saintmark1976 added 17:35 - Mar 13 Petedoors1, I wish Matt Le Tiss was going to be fit to play against Brighton.
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highfield49 added 18:10 - Mar 13 Our gain their loss, if Rice and Wilson get anywhere near the pitch and actually kick the ball in the right direction then the media will have them signing for a BIG club in seconds flat.
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SaintBrock added 11:32 - Mar 14 Is this Reed getting his own back? All decisions have a political basis whether we like it or not. Thank goodness other countries are not so hamstrung by prejudice and brown-nosing.
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GeordieSaint added 18:55 - Mar 14 Ah come on, fair enough he has been on fire lately but moaning Ross Barkley has only started 10 games. Has jwp started more? He never even had a look in until Christmas and saints fans on here were saying 'what is he for' ? If he plays like that until the end of the season he will get a chance
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