Gareth Southgate explains why Spurs star was dropped from England squad

Gareth Southgate has admitted that Harry Winks has been dropped from the England squad due to his lack of game time at Tottenham in the Premier League over the past few months.

Winks has been part of the last few England squads and even featured for the Three Lions in their Nations League matches against Belgium and Iceland in November.

However, the midfielder did express concern at the time about his lack of regular first-team football at Spurs and admitted that it might cost him a place in the England squad for the Euros.

The midfielder has continued to play a bit-part role at Spurs for the last few months, with most of his minutes coming in the Europa League and domestic cup competitions.

The 25-year-old found himself missing out on a call up for England’s World Cup Qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland, with Harry Kane and Eric Dier being the only two Tottenham representatives in the squad.

When asked about his decision to not select Winks, Southgate told The Evening Standard: “Unfortunately for Harry he’s not been in Tottenham’s team for the league matches.

“He’s had football with the Europa League and I thought Kalvin Phillips and James Ward-Prowse have played particularly well.

“We think Mason Mount can play in that deeper role as well and we have Jude (Bellingham) who has had a super first season with some great experiences for a young player, particularly the Champions League games against Sevilla recently.

“So in every area of the pitch we have difficult decisions with good players.

“We don’t want to bring too big a squad. Although you keep people involved, if they are not playing it’s not a satisfactory experience for them.

“Harry has the opportunity, Tottenham have big matches coming up, to play back into that.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Winks cannot have any complaints as the likes of Bellingham, Ward-Prowse and Phillips deserve to be in the squad. I cannot see Winks getting on the plane for the Euros as he is unlikely to get enough game time at Spurs to make an impression on Southgate.

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