Gareth Southgate hints Chelsea midfield duo won't make World Cup squad

England head coach Gareth Southgate has admitted that the likes of Ross Barkley and Danny Drinkwater may not make the World Cup squad owing to their limited gametime with Chelsea.

The Blues pair were left out of the Three Lions' 27-man squad for the friendlies against Netherlands and Italy, and they now have just over two months in order to make a noticeable impact.

Speaking in a press-conference, via Evening Standard, Southgate stressed that it was difficult to consider Drinkwater, considering the likes Lewis Cook and Jack Wilshere have made better impact with their respective clubs.

Meanwhile, Southgate had the similar opinion on Barkley, who has struggled with a series of muscular problems, which have restricted him to just three appearances in the Blues shirt.

Barkley struggled to earn a single minute of playing time when he was previously called-up by Southgate, and the Englishman may have to wait until post-summer to return to the national setup.