35-cap England midfielder calls for Lingard to replace TAA

Lewis Oldham
England F365
Alexander-Arnold Lingard

Former England international Stewart Downing has urged Gareth Southgate to call up Jesse Lingard in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s place this summer.

Both Lingard and Alexander-Arnold were named in Southgate’s preliminary 33-man England squad for the Euros.

But Lingard was one of seven players to be omitted when the manager whittled down his squad to 26 players. Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Ben Godfrey, James Ward-Prowse, Ollie Watkins and Mason Greenwood were also left out.


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Alexander-Arnold was set for the Euros until he suffered a thigh injury late into England’s friendly against Austria on Wednesday. He has since been ruled out of the tournament and the defender has been left feeling “absolutely gutted” by his injury.

Southgate is yet to name a replacement for Alexander-Arnold. Downing has called for Lingard to be Alexander-Arnold’s replacement.

The former Liverpool midfielder has told Sky Sports that England need another “attack-minded” player at the Euros:

“I personally would probably go with Jesse Lingard, I think his form going into the back end of the season, getting goals, has certainly lifted West Ham into the European spots.

“I just think on form he deserves to go and I think he was very unlucky to be left out, to be honest, but I think with Trent [Alexander-Arnold] missing out we have lots of cover in that position so I would probably go with a more attack-minded player. Maybe Jesse Lingard or if not Ollie Watkins who can get goals.”

Elsewhere, former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has said that he was “surprised” by Lingard’s omission.

Eriksson has suggested that Lingard’s “very good” form for West Ham warranted him being called up:

“It’s a surprise that Lingard’s not there because even to have him on the bench with his pace and one-on-one ability, he’s a clever footballer.

“He had a good season with West Ham. I didn’t see him play every game, but the games I saw, he has been very good.

“It’s always difficult. At the end, you can only pick the number [of players] that you’re allowed to pick. Someone will be disappointed, it’s always like that.”