Paul Ince surprised by James Ward-Prowse developments at West Ham United
Paul Ince has admitted his surprise that West Ham star James Ward-Prowse wasn’t included in Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad for games against Ukraine and Scotland.
Ince claimed he was shocked at the omission, with Ward-Prowse’s set-piece ability making him a stand-out choice for any side as games can be decided by them alone.
He also questioned the decision to leave Chelsea star Raheem Sterling out of the side, while Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips remained.
Speaking to Lucky Block News, Ince shared his take on Southgate’s England selection, saying: “The strange one for me is Kalvin Phillips. I don’t understand why he’s in the squad. He was wonderful for Leeds but he’s not had much game time.
“I was surprised James Ward-Prowse wasn’t included in the last squad. When there’s a free-kick and you need a goal, everyone always thinks of him.
“There’s no reason why Sterling shouldn’t be in the squad either. He was our number one player at the last Euros.”
The focus should be on his West Ham form
The focus around Ward-Prowse should not be on whether or not he is included in the England squad. If he can continue his early season performances at the London Stadium, then an eventual conclusion will be inevitable, with his high-quality showings impossible to ignore.
After three appearances for the Hammers, the new arrival already has three assists, including two in the victory against Chelsea, and scored his first goal for the club in the 3-1 victory over Brighton at the Amex, with West Ham’s season getting off to a flying start.
As far as Hammers fans should be concerned, he doesn’t need to be called up for England to have the recognition for his top performances. With Sterling also left out of the squad despite his own early form, it is clear that rotation is being tested by the England boss.
For now, he will avoid any added strain on his season leading to possible injury issues and can focus on continuing his displays at the London Stadium under David Moyes.
In other West Ham news, a club have made ‘high financial demands’ as the Hammers want a new player already.