Ben Foster claims "something has gone on" with Ben White missing out on England
Published
| Last updated
Former England goalkeeper Ben Foster has questioned Gareth Southgate's decision not to call up Ben White, claiming something has gone on.
Last week Southgate picked his first squad since the national team were knocked out at the World Cup quarter final stages by France.
At first, it looked like the manager would leave his role, following the defeat, but he has decided to stay on until Euro 2024, with the campaign to make it to Germany starting this week.
Amongst the decisions, his choice not to call up Arsenal full back White, who has been in brilliant form for the Premier League leaders, was questioned by many.
Loading…
White was part of the Three Lions campaign in Qatar but returned home early, ahead of the knockout stages, with 'personal reasons' cited.
Despite helping Mikel Arteta's team to the top of the league table, the former Brighton defender has not returned to the squad for the games with Italy and Ukraine.
Foster, who played eight times for England between 2007 and 2014, believes that there's more to what came out during the World Cup, to deny White a place in the current side.
"Something has gone on there for sure," Foster said on his YouTube channel, "Every week he is doing it now.
"He's getting involved in goals. He's getting involved in assists for fun. He's playing really, really well. Arsenal are on fire and these are the sort of players that, when you are naming your England squad, you should be picking these players in form.
"Obviously whatever happened in the World Cup happened - people aren't really privy to any of this information. I've got no scoop on this, I've been trying to find out. But there's definitely something gone on there because that's not right.
"When he's selecting the ones that haven't been playing week in, week out, [ Harry Maguire ] and those sort of players. It just screams of a little bit of a fall out."
Maguire is the obvious example of a defender lucky to be in the squad ahead of others, due to his lack of game time for Manchester United.
However, White's conversion into a full back by Mikel Arteta means he's not really competing with the United captain in the squad.
And Southgate explained why the 25-year-old hadn't been included, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, saying, "With Ben and Trent, we have three boys in at right full-backs and we have got them just ahead of those two.
"We're blessed in that position with depth of talent. It is the hardest position to pick.
"It is never straightforward criteria and it is always shifting around on form."
For the upcoming matches, the former defender has called up Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Reece James in the right back position.
White may never have gone to the World Cup in the first place if James hadn't been injured ahead of the tournament, especially with many believing the Chelsea full back still should have gone.
Featured Image Credit: MUFC podcast/PA Images
Topics: Football, England, Euro 2024, Ben White, Ben Foster, Gareth Southgate, Arsenal, Premier League
