Gareth Southgate has told Trent Alexander-Arnold he trails Kieran Trippier, making the Liverpool star England’s fourth-choice right-back.
Alexander-Arnold was named in the 28-man squad for recent Nations League matches against Italy and Germany.
However, he didn’t come off the bench against Italy before being dropped from the match day squad which faced Germany.
The 23-year-old has won everything with Liverpool since his breakthrough but has struggled to translate that to the international stage.
Alexander-Arnold has only won 17 caps since his debut in 2018 and only one of them has come this year.
In front of him are Kyle Walker, Reece James and Trippier.
“First of all, I didn’t want a player sitting in the stand for two matches, so I think the way we manage a group of people has been a big strength for us in tournaments and we have to. do,” said the England manager. said when explaining Alexander-Arnold’s absence in the 3-3 draw with Germany.
“The other night we didn’t need the left-back. Against Germany we did it because of the way we acted with the team, so we needed Chilly [Ben Chilwell] on the bench and we had Kieran who at the moment I feel his full game is ahead [of Alexander-Arnold].”
Asked about conversations with those left behind, Southgate said: “I had long conversations with each of them, I was very clear with them about where they stand, what they need to improve, what they do well so that they’re very clear on where they sit.
Another hot topic of conversation was the loyalty Southgate has shown to underprivileged Manchester United captain Harry Maguire.
The 29-year-old gave away the penalty that gave Germany the opener on Monday and was stripped in the move that ended with his second, but Southgate’s conviction remains intact.
“I know everyone says he’s important to me, he’s important to us,” Southgate said. “It’s us, it’s not me.
“Why do we choose it? Because he is one of the players who gives us the best chance of winning.
“So really, we should all want a Harry Maguire who plays consistently and plays with confidence.
“That applies, of course, to quite a few players, but that’s where it all lands, which must be a tough space for him, really, but he’s showing tremendous character.
“I think he has the character to get over that because he’s a lad who went from Sheffield United to Hull City – his journey isn’t one where everything went well.
“Sometimes you have guys who at the start of their careers didn’t have to deal with adversity and when it hits them it’s harder to deal with.
“He’s like most of us, really, in that he’s had a lot of obstacles and that shapes your character.”
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