Gareth Southgate, meanwhile, has said that Trent Alexander-Arnold is behind Kieran Trippier in the right-back pecking order for England due to his “all-round game”.
Alexander-Arnold has starred in Liverpool’s successes in recent years but struggled to cement a starting place under Southgate on the international stage and was omitted from the squad that faced Germany.
Southgate said: “The other night (against Italy), we didn’t need the left-back cover. Because of the way we went along with the team against Germany, we didn’t need the left-back cover. We needed Chilly [Ben Chilwell] on the bench and we had Kieran who, at the moment, I feel his all-round game is ahead (of Alexander-Arnold).”
Asked about the conversations with those left out, Southgate said: “I’ve had long conversations with all of them, been very clear with them about where they stand, what they need to improve upon, what they’re doing well so they’re very clear on where they sit.”
