Three Manchester United players have made the grade in Roy Hodgson’s latest England selection to face the Republic of Ireland – and none of them are Ashley Young.
It seems inconceivable that an in-form Young has missed out, especially when those who have made the cut such as Jamie Vardy and Andros Townsend have not been playing in as much of a rich vein of form.
Roy Hodgson defended his choice to leave one of United’s best players of the season out of his selection, saying that Young has a ‘slight issue that needs clearing up over the summer’. This is thought to be in reference to Ashley’s recent issues with his Achilles, which he was willing to risk in order to play for England next month to get his international career back on track.
Young hasn’t played for England since 2013 when the Three Lions drew with Ukraine in an infamously poor performance.
Louis van Gaal will be happy that Young hasn’t been selected as it means he can spend the time between the match against Hull this weekend and pre-season recovering so that he will be fresh for 2015-16 and hopefully be able to reproduce or even improve on this season’s performances.
The three Old Trafford men who have made the cut are Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and England and United captain Wayne Rooney. Previously linked transfer target Nathaniel Clyne, who was rumoured to have agreed terms with the club, is also selected to feature, as well as former United duo Tom Heaton and Danny Welbeck.
They will join up with the international collective after the end of the Premier League season and play a friendly away at the Republic of Ireland before then playing away in Slovenia in a Euro 2016 qualifying game on the 14th of June.
The full England squad for the two games is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Robert Green, Joe Hart, Tom Heaton
Defenders: Ryan Bertrand, Gary Cahill, Nathaniel Clyne, Kieran Gibbs, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling
Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Fabian Delph, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Ryan Mason, James Milner, Raheem Sterling, Andros Townsend, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere
Forwards: Charlie Austin, Wayne Rooney, Jamie Vardy, Danny Welbeck
