Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard should not be a part of England’s squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers, according to former Arsenal winger Perry Groves.
Lingard was named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the matches against Bulgaria today and Kosovo on Tuesday.
However, he is set to miss the Bulgaria clash through an illness he picked up this week.
But Groves believes there is no way the 26-year-old should have been picked in the first place.
Lingard has failed to score or assist for Manchester United in a Premier League match in 2019.
Groves says Southgate has gone back on his previous value of only picking players who have been performing for their club sides.
“Jesse Lingard should be nowhere near that England squad, nowhere near,” Groves said on talkSPORT.
“He must have bruises all over his body where he’s pinching himself regularly, because he shouldn’t be in the squad.
“Managers always have their favourites.
“Jesse Lingard hasn’t scored or made an assist [in the Premier League] since December for Manchester United.
“That’s a long time, when you’re playing for one of the top clubs in the country by the way. [Southgate] probably likes his work ethic doesn’t he, he likes his industry, he probably likes his liveliness.
“But, I’ll go back to my point, on current form, and [Southgate’s] always said about the way you play for your clubs and that’s why people have been left out – be consistent.
“I wouldn’t say [Lingard’s] set the world alight [playing for England], he’s been okay.”
Three players could make their senior England debuts in the two qualifiers.
Chelsea’s Mason Mount has been rewarded with a call-up after a good start to the season.
Leicester’s James Maddison and Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings are also vying for their first caps.