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Gareth Southgate explains why Gary Cahill was excluded from England squad

Gareth Southgate explains why Gary Cahill was excluded from England squad


Gareth Southgate explains why Gary Cahill was excluded from England squad

Southgate explains Cahill's exclusion

England head coach Gareth Southgate has suggested that Chelsea defender Gary Cahill must play regularly in the coming months in order to assure himself of a spot with Three Lions for the 2018 World Cup.

The Blues skipper was a notable absentee in Southgate's 27-man squad, which prepare to face Netherlands and Italy in international friendlies during the upcoming break.

Cahill has failed to garner a starting role with the Blues ever since his horror show in the 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, and Southgate admits that it will be difficult to pick him the centre-back unless he earns regular gametime at the club level.

"I was really pleased with how we defended during the games in November. But I don't want to call up a senior player who isn't playing for his club. Gary can still make the World Cup if he is playing." he is quoted as saying by The Times.

Conte is currently behind the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Christian Eriksen and Antonio Rudiger in the pecking order for the central defensive role, and it appears that he could miss out on the global tournament in Russia, unless he managed to retain a starting spot with the club in the coming months.

Aside from Cahill, there were a couple of surprise inclusions in the form of Danny Welbeck and Joe Hart, both of whom had played limited football in the Premier League point of view ahead of the squad announcement.