Ross Barkley’s omission was my biggest decision, says England’s Allardyce• England manager justifies selections for Slovakia World Cup qualifier
• Marcus Rashford can build experience in Under-21s, he adds
Sam Allardyce admits that omitting Ross Barkley from his first England squad was the toughest decision he had to make.
Allardyce, who also confirmed that he would name his captain on Tuesday, left Barkley out of his 23-man squad for Sunday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier in Slovakia despite the Everton midfielder having enjoyed a promising start to the season.
The 22-year-old, who was an unused member of England’s Euro 2016 squad, has scored twice in his first four games but that was not enough to prevent him being left out by Allardyce.
The former Sunderland manager said: “We’ve had to make some very, very difficult decisions. None more so than Ross Barkley. It’s disappointing for him. The door will always be open for Ross but at this moment I think the squad I’ve named is right.”
On what things he and his coaching staff had looked at when selecting players, Allardyce said: “We’ve looked at all avenues, what sort of pre-season they’ve had, what happened last season, this season, look at balance of the squad …”
While Barkley, who was watched by Allardyce in Saturday’s win over Stoke and the assistant Sammy Lee in the opening-day draw with Tottenham, was left out, along with Jack Wilshere, there was better news for the recalled quartet Luke Shaw, Phil Jagielka, Danny Drinkwater and Theo Walcott.
There was a surprise first call-up for West Ham winger Michail Antonio, with the squad showing five changes from the one that went to Euro 2016.
In explaining his decision to select the 26-year-old Antonio, Allardyce said: “The journey. The quality of the player that has shown through in every league he has played. The impact he had at the end of last season and the start of this, his attacking flair, his quality for final-third delivery, and his goal record from a wide position.
“I think that that journey is something that deserves to be in this squad and me to have a look at as a potential player going forward. It shows if you’ve got guts and determination and desire, how much it means [to you] … then he goes forward and creates a career for him which finally ends in the Premier League and finally with us in this squad.”
Allardyce has also left out Marcus Rashford and believes the Manchester United striker needs to secure a first-team place at Old Trafford before he is regular at senior international level.
The 18-year-old, who was included in Roy Hodgson’s squad for the European Championship, came off the bench to score his first Premier League goal of the season at Hull on Saturday.
“I think that having international experience in the Under-21s will be invaluable for us later down the line,” Allardyce said. “And, if he’s breaking into Manchester United’s team, he will be in my squad, whenever that’s announced.
“But because of his inclusion only as a substitute – as good as it was against Hull City – I think that the value of having probably a full game with Gareth [Southgate, Under-21 manager] will be invaluable to him and, later on, for us. A bit like Harry Kane and people like that in the past.
“He made a massive impact last season, yes, but he’s only a young man, let’s not heap too much pressure on him just yet. Let him go and have a feel playing for the Under-21s; hopefully he’s a star for them, scores goals for them and gives me that decision next time around on the next squad I pick.”
England created few chances in a frustrating 0-0 draw against Slovakia in the final group game at Euro 2016 but Allardyce expects a different proposition in the forthcoming game.
He feels their opponents will have to make more of an attempt to win the game and cannot be content with a draw.
“We’ve examined that game, we’ve watched that match but we’ve really focused on the games they’ve played at home and I think that their tactics will be different when we play them in Slovakia,” he said. “They’re a team that has to come out and attack us to try and win the game, they’re playing at home whereas in the Euros we all knew that one point was enough for them and they made a very sound, solid defensive unit that was very difficult to break down in the end because they weren’t interested in playing any type of attacking football.
“I think it will be difficult in Slovakia and we have to plan for them playing on their own patch and us trying to break them down.”
Guardian
