ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate urged fans to lay off Ben White after he asked to not be picked for his country again.
Southgate, who named a 25-man squad to face Brazil and Belgium, revealed the Arsenal star does not want a call-up despite his red-hot form.
Four-cap White, 26, who signed a new four-year Gunners deal on Thursday, went home for personal reasons during the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Yet Southgate says the door is still open for him, adding: “I don’t want a backlash. I understand we are in a situation where that could happen.
“But he’s signed a new contract so there’s no question he’s got the love of the Arsenal fans.
“The shame is I’d have liked to have picked him.
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“In these situations, I’ve tried to protect players. Yet that’s impossible here.
“Because of the timing of asking to come off the long-list for our squad, I don’t think that it would be right not to state the situation we’re in.
“We’ve explained to Arsenal we were going to do that. And if you make a decision like that, you do have to stand by it.
“The door is open — but that’s unlikely now for the Euros because of the situation this month.
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“Moving forward, I’d hope he feels differently about it. I can’t say he doesn’t deserve to be in.”
SunSport understands the defender has not ruled out a return one day.
But Arsenal sporting director Edu rang FA chief John McDermott to tell him White still did not want to be considered.
Knowing that Southgate would be asked about White, Arsenal yesterday morning confirmed he has signed on until 2028.
Southgate, whose side host Brazil a week on Saturday and Belgium three days later, added: “I have to respect the decision.
“I spoke to him post- Qatar and there was reticence from his side.
“I don’t know fully why that is. There is no issue between us. There is no issue with [England No 2] Steve Holland. That has been mentioned and I don’t like that.”
Meanwhile, Southgate fears Manchester United defender Luke Shaw, 28, could miss the Euros with a muscle injury.
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He said: “The timelines would suggest he will only be available in the dying embers of the season.
“You don’t know what version of the player you’re going to get.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
