Michail Antonio has hit out at Gareth Southgate for overlooking West Ham teammate James Ward-Prowse for his latest England squad.
Ward-Prowse has not been included in the England squad to face Australia and Italy this month, continuing a period out of favour for the midfielder.
The 28-year-old was also left out of the squad for the 2022 World Cup despite making the preliminary selection and has been unable to break back in despite excellent form at club level.
Ward-Prowse has scored twice and provided six assists in all competitions since signing for West Ham from Southampton last summer, with Antonio critical of Southgate’s selection.
“I am upset with Southgate,” Antonio said on The Footballer’s Football Podcast. “The stats say that Ward-Prowse is doing everything week in week out to play for England so it is mad he has not been picked.
“I think that when you are playing at your best you should be rewarded and for me that is England. He has been unbelievable.
“I understand managers like to pick players they trust, but he has got players in there who are not even playing. I do not like that.
“If I was James now [and got picked], I would not go,” he continued. “I am being deadly serious. There is no bigger honour than playing for your country but I would not want to play for the man.
“Multiple times he has done everything and multiple times he has been overlooked.”
