Player who 'never gets a mention' backed for future England squads

Gareth Southgate has been told to pick a player who 'never gets a mention,' with Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell both having issues at left back.

There isn't much time for Southgate to make too many wild changes to his England squad between now and the World Cup, starting in November.

The national team boss picked his last squad before deciding who will be going to Qatar earlier in the week, for the games against Italy and Germany.

Ivan Toney got his first call up but most of the squad were long serving members of Southgate's team, that have reached a semi final and final of their past two tournaments, which is how Harry Maguire snuck in.

Two other players whose longer term futures could still be in doubt are the left backs, Shaw and Chilwell, and one pundit has an answer.

Speaking on talkSPORT, former Arsenal star Perry Groves backed Brentford left back Rico Henry to be given a chance, saying he was never really spoken about.

"We're struggling with left-back positions at the moment with Chilwell getting left out last night and Shaw's been injured," Groves said on the radio.

"Rico Henry has never ever been mentioned as getting anywhere near the England squad.

"And he is excellent defensively one v ones, he's very good technically, he's good going forward. I don't think he'll be in this squad but he never gets a mention.

"Maybe they don't see Brentford as being fashionable enough. Because he was brilliant in the Championship, Brentford fans said he was excellent last season and he's carried on that form this season as well.

"He's only 25 and I think he's played for England under 20s but he doesn't seem to ever get a mention."

“He never gets a mention.”

“We’re struggling at left-back. He is excellent defensively, and going forward.”

Perry Groves hopes to see Rico Henry get an opportunity with England, down the line. pic.twitter.com/bgdCACHHtv

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 15, 2022

Whilst Shaw was nearly responsible for England's first trophy since 1966, after scoring in the final of the Euros against Italy before inevitably going on to lose, the Manchester United left back isn't exactly in World Cup form.

He has had injury problems but he's also lost the first choice slot at United to Tyrell Malacia, who is a new signing at Old Trafford this summer.

Shaw played the full game in the team's opening day defeat to Brighton and 45 in the loss to Rico's Brentford, a 4-0 smashing, and coming off at half time.

He's since only played the final 20 minutes against Sheriff Tiraspol, in the Europa League on Thursday night, as game Erik ten Hag's side already had won.

Chilwell has also had his own injury problems and has also missed out to a new signing, with Marc Cucurella starting at left wing back for Chelsea.

The former Leicester City defender has only played more than an hour twice so far in the campaign, in the league or Champions League, and missed the 1-1 draw with Red Bull Salzburg in midweek.

Perhaps Groves has a point...