Ian Wright questions England’s Jesse Lingard decision that has left him “devastated”

Euro 2020: England’s final 26-man squad

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Ian Wright has conceded he was “devastated” by Jesse Lingard missing out on Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad for the European Championships.

Lingard was one of seven players to miss out from Southgate’s preliminary 33-man squad list.

The playmaker had shone for West Ham during the second half of the season, having failed to feature under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.

Despite missing out on the squad list, Lingard opted to stay with the England camp for the rest of the week, and was rewarded for his loyalty with a start against Austria on Wednesday.

And Wright explained prior to the match that he felt disappointed for Lingard.

© GETTY England’s midfielder Jesse Lingard warms up ahead of play during the international friendly football match between England and Austria at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, north-east England on June 2, 2021. – – NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / POOL / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

“Yeah it’s very tough for Jesse,” he said.

“I think what he’s been through, considering he’s in the squad after the past year, I think it’s devastating for me. He’s got to play a game knowing he’s not going.”

Lingard started alongside Jack Grealish and Harry Kane in a free-flowing front three, seeming to drop deep to pick the ball up from the midfield.

Southgate had raised eyebrows with his team selection, with many questioning why he chose to start Lingard when he wouldn’t be part of the European Championship squad.

But Southgate insisted the United star deserves a chance to prove himself.

He said: “He [Lingard] will play tomorrow because we’ve got Sancho ill and a lot of players not available and, for the balance of the team, he will start. He deserves that opportunity to go and show me that I’m wrong.

© GETTY Jesse Lingard remained with the England camp after being snubbed by Gareth Southgate

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“The lads that are with us are the standby list and we need to keep them match-ready.

“Everybody wants to play and that can affect our decision making in these two matches and the training sessions in the lead-up.

“We have got a very good idea of what we want to do, but that’s always got to be open to change – and that’s the opportunity the players have in the next two games.”

Southgate went on to praise Lingard for his work at the London Stadium, saying he wouldn’t have had a chance if he hadn’t made the loan move.

Lingard scored nine times and provided six assists in 16 Premier League games during his brief stint at West Ham.

He played his way back into contention for an international call-up, and returned to the side earlier in the year after a brilliant spell in London.

© REUTERS Gareth Southgate heaped praise on Jesse Lingard despite leaving him out of his 26-man England squad for Euro 2020

“Southgate continued, saying: “Jesse has done incredibly well to get back in the race. Going back to January, he was a million miles from being selectable for an England squad.

“I said in March that he had a fabulous few weeks, but you’d have to say he was a little fortunate because we were without four wide players at that time.

“He had a good spell with West Ham and is a player that has played so well for England. We have total trust in the way he plays: he’s reliable and a great member of the group.”