{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Conor Coady England snub shocks talkSPORT pundit, Gareth Southgate seems to love Everton outcast
Darren Bent was very surprised to see Everton defender Conor Coady’s left out of the England squad, because Gareth Southgate seems to “love” him.
The on-loan Wolves defender has lost his place in the Toffees starting XI after the arrival of Sean Dyche as manager, and has now seen his spot in the national set up go as well.
Although he rarely got into the starting line-up under the Three Lions boss he has been highlighted as a valuable man to have in the camp, so former England striker Bent included his omission as one of a few shocks.
Speaking live on talkSPORT on Thursday (16 March), in a clip posted on Twitter (1m 20s) Bent said: “Conor Coady, he’s not in the squad. He’s probably one thinking, ‘Well, why am I not in the squad?’
“I know Everton are down at the bottom but he was certainly a player that Gareth seemed to love, and love having him about.”
Fall from grace
Subscribe to Football Insider TV now
Coady’s arrival at the start of the season looked like a masterstroke as he quickly built up a partnership alongside fellow summer signing James Tarkowski.
The duo combined with Nathan Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko to have one of the best defensive records in the Premier League as Frank Lampard’s side made a positive start to the season.
The 30-year-old’s permanent signing was seen as virtually a foregone conclusion come the end of the season, but his form trailed off as the team’s fortunes collapsed, and it has been all-change under Dyche.
Southgate has proven to be extremely loyal to players who have served his set up well, as the inclusion of Harry Maguire despite losing his Manchester United place shows.
Jordan Pickford has often come under scrutiny but the England boss has never wavered in his support, with the keeper the only Everton inclusion in this squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
It appears that a lack of club football is not a barrier to those who regularly make the team itself, but losing your place to Michael Keane is a step too far for when you perform more of an off-pitch role in the squad.