RIO FERDINAND revealed his fury at Jadon Sancho’s continued England absence – with the stats proving he’s Gareth Southgate’s second-most-dangerous attacking threat.
The Borussia Dortmund ace, 21, is yet to play a single minute at Euro 2020.
Sancho was left out of the squad for last Sunday’s 1-0 win over Croatia and was stuck on the bench for the goalless draw with Scotland – despite England clearly lacking a creative edge.
Ferdinand has now urged boss Southgate to get Sancho on the pitch – pointing to his stats for Dortmund since 2018-19.
In the last three seasons, Sancho has been involved in 109 goals for the Bundesliga giants.
Only Raheem Sterling (110) has more in England’s 26-man squad, with Sancho even boasting more Harry Kane (106).
A fuming Ferdinand told BBC 5 Live: “There’s no doubt in my mind we’ve got players on that bench in attacking areas that can change games… utilise them.
“Sancho’s not even got on the pitch.
“Statistically, in terms of goal involvements in the last three seasons, Raheem Sterling is No1 in the team, Sancho No2 and Harry Kane No3.
“But Sancho’s not got on the pitch.
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MOST GOAL INVOLVEMENTS: England Euro 2020 squad since 2018-19
RAHEEM STERLING – 110 goals & assists
JADON SANCHO – 109
HARRY KANE – 106
“So one of your most creative players doesn’t even get in the squad in the first game, he’s in the stands, and in the second doesn’t even get his boots wet.”
Ferdinand went on to say England have been crying out for the likes of Sancho, Sterling, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden in recent decades.
The former Manchester United defender even said England would have ‘won everything’ if they’d had the current crop of forwards during his playing days.
Ferdinand continued: “I just feel there’s creative players we’ve been desperate to see. We’ve been crying out for wide players.
“I wish we had these players in my generation… we’d have won everything.
“They’re devastating from wide areas.”
Pointing to the goal involvement stats, with Sancho just one behind leader Sterling in club football since 2018-19, Ferdinand continued: “Those tell you… the kid’s got it.
“He’s got the ability, he’s proven it – not like a one-season wonder, three years he’s been doing that… as a kid, by the way.”
ITV pundit Ian Wright also slated Southgate for leaving Sancho on the bench in the immediate aftermath of the Scotland draw.
The former Arsenal and Three Lions ace roared: “There’s no way Foden should be leaving the pitch today.
“You’ve got Sancho on the bench – 15 goals and 20 assists a season – and he doesn’t even get on.
“We need to create… I’m embarrassed for us today.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
