Pranav Nair
Manchester United star Jesse Lingard could still make the Euros thanks to Trent Alexander Arnold’s injury
According to Manchester Evening News, Manchester United star, Jesse Lingard may have been given fresh hope in his dreams of making this summer’s Euros.
The 28-year-old was amongst the best players in the Premier League in the latter half of the 2020/21 campaign. He won the Premier League Player of the Month and the Goal of the Month awards for April as West Ham United finished just shy of the Champions League spots.
Despite being named in Gareth Southgate’s 33-man provisional squad, he was surprisingly dropped from the final squad. Curiously enough, he was included in England’s pre-tournament friendly against Austria.
The match was perhaps a harbinger of things to come. Coincidentally, the biggest talking point from the game has nothing to do with Lingard but something that could impact him the most.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold was taken off injured and is now set to miss the tournament altogether. With a spot now open, Lingard could very well be the man to be included.
In Kieran Trippier, Reece James and Kyle Walker, Gareth Southgate already has three other right-backs to call upon. It makes little sense for him to replace Alexander-Arnold with a player in the same position.
A final audition?
Teams are allowed to change members of their squads up until the date of their first game. England get their campaign underway against Croatia on Sunday, June 13, giving Southgate enough time to make his decision.
He will however wait until after the friendly against Romania to make his decision. With a spot up for grabs, one can argue that Lingard now faces an audition should he feature against the Romanians.
As long as he continues to play as he has in recent months, he should make the cut.
More Manchester United News
- Juventus eye Manchester United star Paul Pogba
- Manchester United facing competition for Grimsby Town starlet Ben Grist
- Raphael Varane ready to choose Manchester United thanks to lucrative new offer
Lingard started the match against Austria and is reportedly the favourite to take the final spot in the squad. Few who have watched him at West Ham will disagree.
