Jonjo Shelvey should have been in the England squad because he offers something “a little bit different”, believes Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles.
Gareth Southgate has yet to pick Shelvey, whose last Three Lions cap came more than two years ago, since he took over as national-team manager.
In his latest squad for the friendlies against Italy and the Netherlands, Southgate overlooked Lascelles and Shelvey - both of who many Newcastle fans felt had decent claims to be considered for selection.
Centre-back Lascelles was disappointed not to receive a call up himself, but it is the absence of his United team-mate Shelvey from the England squad which has left him surprised.
In Lascelles’ opinion, the Magpies midfielder would offer a new dimension to the England side with his passing ability.
“I train with Jonjo every single day and technically he is so talented,” Lascelles told The Telegraph.
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“I’m not dissing anyone who is in the England team, they are there for a reason and they are very good players, but Jonjo can quite comfortably compete at that level.
“Technically he’s right up there with the best Premier League midfielders. We’ve [England] got hard-working midfielders, disciplined midfielders, but Jonjo offers something a little bit different. He definitely does for us. He’s one of our best players.”