Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has shared the text message he received from England manager Thomas Tuchel after being left out of the latest Three Lions squad.
Tuchel named his 24-man group on Friday ahead of upcoming internationals against Wales and Latvia.
Bukayo Saka, who missed last month's internationals through injury, was included alongside Bayer Leverkusen's Jarell Quansah, while Jack Grealish, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden all missed out.
Trevoh Chalobah and Curtis Jones were also left out alongside the in-form Adam Wharton, who has been one of Crystal Palace's standout performers in the opening weeks of the season.
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Speaking at his press conference this week, Tuchel was asked who he had phoned to explain their omission. He replied: “Adam Wharton, Trevoh Chalobah, Phil, Jack, Jude, Curtis Jones.”
Tuchel added: “Normally, the procedure is that I inform the guys personally who were in the last camp and are left out. So I call them, I explain to them why, so they hear it from me."
Adam Wharton reveals what Thomas Tuchel told him over text message
One of the big talking points from Tuchel's latest announcement was the omission of Wharton, who has now given his take on being dropped by Tuchel.
"He just gave me a message saying I'm playing well, I'm close and I deserve to be there but he's going to stick with the same team," Wharton told the Daily Mail as he touched on the text he received from Tuchel.
"That's football, I'm not too fussed about that. I can take the time off, go see my grandparents, and it's not the end of the world as there's another camp next month. I'm just focusing on Crystal Palace and playing well and hopefully if I play well I'll get the call."
"It's nice to hear [what Tuchel said] but I think my focus is on Palace and if that goes well then England is just a bonus," he continued.
"Nothing is expected. England have some top players and he's got a lot of players to choose from. No matter who he picks someone is not going to get in and there will be a fuss about it.
"I can't sit here and cry about it, this is football and I'm happy playing for Palace and getting minutes and trying to do as well as I can and improve and if I get picked I get picked," added Wharton.
"If not I'll carry on playing for Palace and enjoying it – there's nothing else I can do really."
Wharton says he will keep "knocking on the door" ahead of next summer's World Cup.
"Hopefully. Obviously everyone wants to play for their country if they get chosen but, like I said, this is football and he's got plenty of top players to choose from and that's what he gets paid to do, pick the team and help England go well," he added.
"Hopefully they kick on and get the results they need to qualify for the World Cup. I'll keep knocking on the door and if I'm in, I'm in and if not I'll carry on.'
Topics: England, Thomas Tuchel, Crystal Palace, Premier League
Jack Kenmare