Pundit slams Gareth Southgate after ‘embarrassing’ snub of West Ham United duo James Ward-Prowse and Jarrod Bowen
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie believes West Ham duo James Ward-Prowse and Jarrod Bowen should have been selected in the latest England squad.
The Hammers pair were omitted from Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for the matches against Ukraine and Scotland.
England take on the former in Euro 2024 qualification on Saturday (9 September) before a friendly clash with the latter on Tuesday (12 September).
Despite strong starts to the new season for both Ward-Prowse and Bowen in claret and blue, they have both been left at home for the two games.
Ward-Prowse has one goal and three assists from his three appearances in the new Premier League campaign, with Bowen scoring three times and chipping in with one assist from his four games.
But Southgate opted for the likes of Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips in midfield, and Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Phil Foden in an attacking sense.
Speaking to West Ham Zone, McAvennie said: “To put Phillips in front of Ward-Prowse is just embarrassing as far as I’m concerned. And that’s just at West Ham, there will be other clubs saying the same thing about their players who have missed out.
“Ward-Prowse and Bowen could have been in there ahead of Henderson and Phillips. Ward-Prowse has been the best signing of the summer.
“Maybe it’s because of ‘wee’ West Ham again, something to do with us. But it’s not going to be helpful to the players when players like that get picked before them.”
In other West Ham news, a Sky Sports journalist has shared a “mistake” verdict on a new Hammers signing.