{"id":1104465,"date":"2019-09-03T15:02:47","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T14:02:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1104465"},"modified":"2019-09-03T15:03:58","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T14:03:58","slug":"gareth-southgate-explains-why-jesse-lingard-was-not-dropped-from-england-squad","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/gareth-southgate-explains-why-jesse-lingard-was-not-dropped-from-england-squad\/","title":{"rendered":"Gareth Southgate: Why Man Utd forward Jesse Lingard kept his England spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

England manager Gareth Southgate has explained why he chose not to drop Jesse Lingard from the squad despite his struggles at Old Trafford.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Manchester United have only won one of their opening four games of the season and Lingard has failed to impress so far.<\/p>\n

Should Lingard be in the England squad? Five key things to know\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  • The 26-year-old has yet to score or assist a goal in the 2019\/20 Premier League season.<\/li>\n
  • In fact, he has not scored or assisted a league goal at all this calendar year.<\/li>\n
  • Yet Southgate called him up to England’s squad ahead of Euros 2020 qualifiers vs Montenegro and Kosovo.<\/li>\n
  • The Three Lions boss says Lingard “has always been good” for his national side.<\/li>\n
  • The attacking midfielder scored four times for England in 2018.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7354781-emery-must-resist-his-crystal-palace-tribute-act-to-punish-unsettled-spurs<\/p>\n

    There were a few surprises in Gareth Southgate\u2019s England squad selection ahead of their Euro 2020 qualifying games against Bulgaria and Kosovo.<\/p>\n

    Kyle Walker was left out while Jesse Lingard kept his place, even though he has not played well for United this season. Former Three Lions boss Sam Allardyce, appearing on Talksport<\/a>, believes the player will have already have been warned he could lose his starter status at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n

    Southgate defended Lingard\u2019s inclusion in the squad with the manager suggesting his performances for the Three Lions was a big part of his thinking.<\/p>\n

    “I think you\u2019d have to say I\u2019ve seen him have better spells for United,” Southgate said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    “I think Ole has a young, energetic team, and I think Jesse\u2019s pressing and the energy he brings to that has been an important part of what they\u2019ve tried to do in the first few games.<\/p>\n

    “The inclusion of Jesse for us is partly because his form for us has always been good.<\/p>\n

    “I know there was stats on his goals. He was only involved in four games for us last season because of injury \u2013 two starts and two off the bench.”<\/p>\n

    \n

    OFFICIAL: @England<\/a> have released their squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo. pic.twitter.com\/k11xFG9fvf<\/a><\/p>\n

    — Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) August 29, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n