Paul Merson slams ‘ridiculous’ Gareth Southgate decision to snub West Ham ace James Ward-Prowse for England
Paul Merson has slammed Gareth Southgate for his “ridiculous” decision to overlook West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse for England selection.
Ward-Prowse has earned 11 caps for the Three Lions, but he is not part of their squad for the Euro 2024 qualifier with Ukraine and friendly with Scotland.
Southgate has instead included the likes of out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips and former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson, who is now playing his club football in Saudi Arabia.
Writing in his weekly Sky Sports column [7 September], Merson said: “You’ve got someone who’s playing in the Saudi league in front of 6,000 people every week and then you’ve got Ward-Prowse, who’s playing very well for West Ham.
“He’s been one of the game changers but he doesn’t get a look in. It’s ridiculous.”
An easy option
“Ridiculous” is one way of putting it.
Ward-Prowse has been directly involved in four Premier League goals in just three matches since joining West Ham.
His set-piece ability alone should surely make him an easy option for Southgate, never mind his creativity from open play.
JWP’s 11 caps have been spread across a six-and-a-half-year period, all of which came during his time with Southampton.
It is all the more remarkable when you think back to 2021 when Ward-Prowse was given a chance by Southgate and fully took it with goals in successive Nations League appearances.
On this occasion, England’s loss is West Ham’s gain as the free-kick king will have a chance to rest up over this two-week break.
But if he continues to score and assist at his current rate, it is almost certain Southgate will bow to the pressure ahead of next month’s fixtures.
In other West Ham news, Robbie Savage agrees that Ward-Prowse should feel “very aggrieved”.