Theo Walcott hit back at Gareth Southgate after being axes, saying: ‘I’m one of the leading scorers in the Premier League’
THEO WALCOTT challenged England manager Gareth Southgate over his omission from the England squad.
The Arsenal winger heard the news on his 28th birthday.
The way they were…Theo Walcott joins Gareth Southgate at an England press conferenceGetty Images
But his day was upset upon learning he had been axed for Southgate’s squad for the friendly with Germany and the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.
Said Southgate of Walcott, who has scored 17 goals for Arsenal in all competitions this season, including eight in the Premier League.
“He wasn’t chuffed to bits to get the call and I understand that. I don’t expect him to be pleased.
The two men were together for England’s friendly with Spain last yearReutersWalcott has scored 17 goals for Arsenal this seasonNews Group Newspapers Ltd
“He argued his case. Quite rightly, he said: ‘I’m one of the leading goalscorers in the league’.
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“I don’t mind being challenged at all. I totally respect that.
“But I’ve got to make decisions and it was the right thing to call him to talk that through, even though doing it on his birthday probably wasn’t great.”
The winger certainly wasn’t pleased to be left out by SouthgatePA:Press Association
Walcott has only scored eight goals in 47 England games but his omission is a surprise given the absence of injured Liverpool and Tottenham strikers Daniel Sturridge and Harry Kane.
Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe, aged 34, was included by Southgate, his first England call in over 1,000 days, while Southampton winger Nathan Redmond was handed his first call-up.
England play Germany in a friendly Berlin on March 22 before hosting Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley on March 26.
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