talkSPORT reporter questions latest England snub for West Ham United ace James Ward-Prowse
talkSPORT reporter Jack Cunningham echoed the view of every West Ham supporter in questioning exactly what James Ward-Prowse must do to earn an England call-up.
Ward-Prowse was left out of the 25-man squad announced by Gareth Southgate on Thursday (9 November) for the Three Lions’ upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers with Malta and North Macedonia.
As a reminder, England have already qualified for next year’s European Championship finals in Germany, and they have just two more games – both friendlies – before Southgate names his squad for the tournament.
Southgate was hardly going to entirely rip up his squad for the November double-header, but this was surely a good chance to get Ward-Prowse into the side.
As was the case in September and October, Kalvin Phillips continues to get picked despite barely featuring for Manchester City at club level, as does Jordan Henderson, who now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia.
As Cunningham stated on talkSPORT’s live blog [9 November, 14:44]: “At what point do some of the in-form midfielders get a look in?
“James Ward-Prowse has been a sensational signing for West Ham and possesses deadly set-piece-delivery. He’s added goals to his game and is doing everything he can to get in.”
While Ward-Prowse – as is the case with every West Ham player – has dropped off in recent weeks, there can be no disputing the fact he has still been one of the best English midfielders in the Premier League overall this season.
The 29-year-old has two goals and three assists to his name in 10 appearances, while also assisting three goals in the Europa League.
It appears that whatever Ward-Prowse does between now and the summer, though, he simply has no chance of again proving himself for England this side of the Euros.
In other West Ham news, David Moyes has dropped a “toughest” verdict in footage shared by reporter Ian Abrahams.