Les Ferdinand and Jamie Redknapp share Dominic Calvert-Lewin verdict for England squad after goal for Everton v Crystal Palace
Les Ferdinand and Jamie Redknapp believe that Dominic Calvert-Lewin should not be in the England World Cup squad despite his goal for Everton at the weekend.
The Toffees striker hit his first goal of the season after an injury-hit campaign after what was just his second start, to stake a late claim to become part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for Qatar which is announced later this week.
But speaking live on Sky Sports [23 October 19:33], both Ferdinand and Redknapp admitted that he hasn’t been playing regularly enough to get in the squad ahead of someone like Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
“Probably not,” he said. “Calvert-Lewin if he’s fit and strong and playing, playing on a regular basis, I think offers you that number nine status that they would be looking for if Harry wasn’t able to play.
“But where it is right now, England’s all about form players. Who’s in form? Ivan Toney would have to be that player.”
“My worry would be for him that he needs a run of games,” Redknapp added. “You can’t take that risk with players that are going to have injuries.
“He needs a great six months, or until the end of the season of football.
“I don’t think so [it could happen in 3 weeks].
“I actually think if you’re Frank Lampard, you never want anyone not to go to a World Cup because it’s an incredible achievement and a great thing to do, but he’s been out for so long with so many injuries, muscular injuries.
“I know they’re really trying to work on his physique, to make sure that he wants to put on weight. He’s such a finely tuned athlete.
“I’m not sure you can take that risk. It’s a big squad you can take, but it would be a real shame for players like Ivan Toney who’ve been doing it for the last 18 months and doing so well.
“I think even he would say, Dominic, that’s a real struggle. If he can squeeze into the squad, maybe if there’s a few injuries, but otherwise I don’t see it, I think it’s too late for him.”
Too late
It’s a real shame for Calvert-Lewin because on paper he is the perfect option for Gareth Southgate and England to be an understudy or foil for Harry Kane.
But in reality with Southgate playing one up front and so many strikers currently playing well, it would be unfair for him to get the nod over them.
For Everton fans that is probably a good thing though, as it means he will get another month to work on his fitness and get sharp ahead of the second half of the Premier League season.
Everton will need him battling hard for the whole campaign and if he’s able to get an extra month off without missing games to get there it will be perfect for the team.
For the player it should make him hungry to impress and work hard towards a potential call up for the qualifiers for Euro 2024, but for once Redknapp was probably speaking sense.