The 10 longest gaps between England caps as Ben White gets shock recall

Ben White has been handed a shock recall to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel, four years after his last appearance for his country.

Following a reported fall-out at the 2022 World Cup, White went home from the tournament for "personal reasons" and spent a considerable period away from the Three Lions.

In March 2024, Gareth Southgate revealed that White had requested that he wasn't considered for selection for any future squads.

Tuchel expressed optimism that White would be open to returning and, after a pair of injury withdrawals to his latest 35-man squad for the March friendlies, Arsenal man White has found himself back in the fold.

White's last outing was against Ivory Coast in March 2022, meaning he is approaching four years between caps. But while that is a long time between appearances, it pales into comparison when it comes to some of the other significant gaps for England players over the years.

With information from englandfootballlonline.com, SPORTbible looks at the 10 longest between England caps. For reference, players prior to the 1930s have not been included.

10.Mike O'Grady

Winger Mike O'Grady made his debut for England against Northern Ireland in 1962 aged 20 and scored twice. Unusually, his second and final appearance came against France six years and 204 days later and he also found the net in that fixture too.

9.Ruben Loftus-Cheek

An exciting talent who came through the ranks at Chelsea, Ruben Loftus-Cheek first played for England in a friendly fixture against Germany in 2017.

Loftus Cheek went on to represent his country at the 2018 World Cup but the AC Milan spent six years and 328 days away from the international scene before he featured against Wales in October 2025.

8.Dominic Solanke

The other player in recent times to play for England after a number of days away is Dominic Solanke. He was first capped against Brazil in November 2017 and his next cap didn't come until six years and 331 days later against Greece in 2024.

Dominic Solanke was away from England duty for nearly seven years. Image: Getty

Spurs star Solanke is back in the England squad for games against Uruguay and Japan.

7.Ian Walker

Son of former Everton and Norwich manager Mike, goalkeeper Ian Walker's first taste of international football came against Hungary in 1996. But after an outing against Italy in 1997, the former Spurs and Leicester man didn't play for England until seven years and 114 days later when he was capped for the last time against Iceland in 2004.

6.Tommy Lawton

The 647th player to play for England, Tommy Lawton was capped for the first time as a 19-year-old against Wales and was the youngest player to score on his England debut until Marcus Rashford usurped him in 2016. That was back in 1938 and after a game against Romania a year later, he did not take to the pitch for England until 1946 - seven years and 127 days later - in a 7-2 win over Ireland.

5.Frank Lampard Sr

Frank Lampard's father and namesake made his debut in 1972 against Yugoslavia and his second and final cap was in a 2-1 win over Australia in 1980 - seven years and 233 days later.

Frank Jr fared better, however, with the Chelsea legend scoring 29 goals in 106 appearances for England.

4.Stanley Matthews

The only Ballon d'Or winner on the list, Stanley Matthews was given his England debut in 1934 but the Stoke and Blackpool icon was still playing for the Three Lions in 1957 in qualifiers for the World Cup the year after.

Stanley Matthews's lengthy absence from England was war-related. Image: Getty

There was a lengthy absence, with World War I stopping football from being played and the oldest and first ever Ballon d'Or winner Matthews away from the national team for a period of seven years and 329 days before he featured against Scotland in 1947.

3.Larry Loyd

Larry Lloyd played for Bill Shankly's Liverpool and Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest, winning a whole lot of silverware. He also turned out for England on four occasions, debuting in 1971 against Wales.

After a further two appearances, he was away from the international stage for seven years and 360 days until his final appearance against Wales in 1980 under the management of Ron Greenwood.

2.Raich Carter

A cricketer and footballer, Raich Carter also had an extended spell away from the England national team for reasons out of control. Because of the war, which saw him join the RAF, there were 9 years and 164 days between his appearances against Scotland and Ireland - the same game in 1946 where Lawton returned to the side.

1.Ian Callaghan

The 845th player to represent England, Ian Callaghan is Liverpool's record appearance maker with 857 in an impressive 19-year spell. But he also holds a Three Lions record that may never be beaten.

Callaghan was capped four times by England, two of which came in 1966. He made one appearance in England's only World Cup triumph and got his medal 43 years later.

Callaghan's next cap after that group stage outing came 11 years and 49 days later when he featured against Switzerland in 1977 aged 35.