NUFC skipper Jamaal Lascelles has admitted he was ‘disappointed’ to find out he’d missed out on the England squad once again, feeling he had a ‘good chance’ of making it after his outstanding displays for Newcastle in recent months.
Considering Gary Cahill, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were all missing, you’d have though Southgate may have made room for Lascelles – the backbone of this NUFC side this season – however the former Boro boss chose to hand debut call-ups to Burnley’s James Tarkowski and Swansea’s Alfie Mawson instead.
With this summer’s World Cup fast approaching, this will have come as a real blow to Lascelles – who quite rightfully felt as though his performances had warranted a call-up.
Here’s his classy response to the news in an interview with NUFC TV from the club’s training camp in Spain:
“I was kind of waiting to see what would happen.
“I thought I might have had a good chance.
“I was disappointed when I found out the team.
“Fair play to the boys who have been selected, I wish them all the best.
The skipper then reiterated that his main focus is Newcastle United, vowing to keep trying his best at club level in a bid to secure a possible England call-up in the future:
“I will keep trying my best for Newcastle.
“That’s my main focus because I need to concentrate on Newcastle, do well in the league, and whatever happens, happens.
“But congratulation to the players that have been selected.”
A top class response from a top class captain who really did deserve a spot in this England squad.
Southgate’s loss.
