Manchester United's Jadon Sancho should have been picked for the England squad ahead of his Manchester City counterpart Raheem Sterling according to Paul Merson.
Despite suffering from poor form at United in 2021, the former Borussia Dortmund man has rediscovered his game since the turn of the year. In his last six matches, Sancho grabbed two goals and three assists as he looked to boost his chances of joining the England national team for friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.
However, Gareth Southgate opted against calling up the 22-year-old. When asked for his reasons behind the decision, Southgate said: "The other attacking players in the squad are slightly ahead of him in our feeling.
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"You can see the names there, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Jack Grealish. Jadon over the last few weeks his performances have improved but it’s an area of the field we’ve got big competition for places."
In his Daily Star column, Merson claimed that Southgate has made an error. "Gareth Southgate should have picked Jadon Sancho instead of Raheem Sterling in his England squad," he began.
"Surely you're better off having Sancho in the squad than Sterling? We know what Sterling can do.
"We know he's going to the World Cup. Sterling always performs for England. Leave him out, he's got big games coming up for Manchester City. And put Sancho in.
" Southgate turned round this week and said he hasn't picked Kyle Walker because he knows what Kyle Walker can do. But don't we know what Sterling can do or Mason Mount?
"Why not leave a few regulars out, not just one? Those players all have massive matches for their clubs coming up."
After being knocked out of the Champions League in their last match, United are no longer playing for silverware this season. The Reds are still hoping to qualify for the elite European competition but sit sixth at present.
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