Jack Wilshere Claims Player Missing Out On England Is 'Personal'

Jack Wilshere has claimed that Gareth Southgate's decision not to call up one in form player has 'got to be personal,' due to his stats being better than current England players.

Southgate is under increasing pressure as England manager, after his side failed to win any of their four Nations League games in the international window.

That put them bottom of the group with Germany, Austria and Italy, and facing relegation in the face, leading to some calls for him to be replaced before the World Cup.

Decisions over team selection, formation and call ups have been criticised by pundits and fans, and now Wilshere has added to the dissenting voices.

The former England midfielder has claimed that the manager's refusal to call up Leicester City midfielder James Maddison is 'personal,' due to the 25-year-old having better stats than Jack Grealish and Phil Foden.

"He’ll [Southgate] know his starting 11 now. For the first game of the World Cup," the former Arsenal midfielder claimed on talkSPORT.

"It’s very harsh, especially on Maddison," he added after Darren Bent mentioned the Leicester player, and Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier.

"More goals, more assists than Jack Grealish, Foden, [James] Ward-Prowse."

"It’s got to be personal.

"Because, as well, chances created, he’s sixth in the league, sixth."

"We’re looking for a creative midfielder, and I’m not saying none of them can create, I love Grealish, I love Foden, but you’ve got to put Maddison in that conversation, at least."

Madison has only made one appearance for the Three Lions, back in November 2019, when he came on as a substitute against Montenegro, in a Euro 2020 qualifier.

The previous month he had been called up for a pair of fixtures but had to back out due to illness but the national team boss was then annoyed when the player was pictured at a casino during the international break.

He has continued to impress for the Foxes still but another call up to the national set up hasn't been forthcoming.

With so little time, and only one more international break, before Southgate names his squad to go to Qatar in November, it seems unlikely he'll be getting into the squad this year.