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Gareth Southgate has revealed why Ben White is continually missing out on the England squad, despite admitting the defender has been ‘solid’ for Arsenal so far this season.
White, who left England’s World Cup squad prematurely for ‘personal reasons’ last year, has yet to return for the Three Lions and once again missed out on a place in Southgate’s squad on Thursday.
England face Malta and North Macedonia in the upcoming international break and Southgate has named an almost identical squad to last time out, snubbing former stalwart Raheem Sterling again.
Denying any lingering fallout from the World Cup last year, Southgate said: ‘I assume (he’s up for selection). Ben’s been very solid for Arsenal this season. He is a different profile of fullback, a centre-back playing at full-back.
Gareth Southgate has revealed why Ben White is continually missing out on the England squad
Southgate has named a very similar group in his latest England squad ahead of the Three Lions upcoming final two Euro 2024 qualifiers at home to Malta and away to North Macedonia
‘He’s doing a good job for his club, he’s just behind a couple of others in the reckoning at the moment.’
White has again been a virtual ever-present for Mikel Arteta’s side this season with 17 appearances already in all competitions, but has been unable to add to the last of his four international caps earned last year.
Southgate also resisted the temptation to select Reece James and Eberechi Eze, who have only recently returned from injury, in his latest squad.
There was a distinct lack of new faces as Southgate played it safe, with the likes of Cole Palmer overlooked.
Southgate explained that he wanted continuity in his team, which had been performing well in assuring Euro 2024 qualification with two games to spare.
Asked about Sterling’s absence, he said: ‘The team are playing really well, we had an exceptional win here against Italy last time around. Who do we leave out to bring him in?’
‘The door is 100 per cent open. There is no doubt about that. In terms of his quality and personality. He is crucial part of the journey we have had.
‘We have stuck with that group, and deliberately not made changes. It is fair to the guys in the squad.’
