James Ward-Prowse admits England snub is ‘a huge disappointment’ after Gareth Southgate leaves the Hammers star out AGAIN before aiming a thinly-veiled dig at his midfield rivals

• James Ward-Prowse has two goals and six assists in eight West Ham matches 
• The midfielder will not add to his 11 caps in the upcoming international fixtures 
• Click HERE to listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ 

James Ward-Prowse was once again left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, despite a fantastic start to life at West Ham, with the manager preferring a number of midfielders that perhaps have not had a similar run of form. 

Southgate’s persistent inclusion of both Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Henderson has continued to raise eyebrows, with both once more called upon for the upcoming clashes with Australia and Italy. 

The former has played just 70 minutes of Premier League football this term, and has continued to struggle to break into Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.

The latter, however, has played more minutes, but in the far less competitive environment of the Saudi Pro League, following a move to Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq. 

Ward-Prowse has scored twice and assisted six more in his first eight games in the famous claret and blue, but it was not enough to pique Southgate’s interest, his latest assist coming in Thursday’s 2-1 win over Freiburg in the Europa League. 

James Ward-Prowse has starred for West Ham so far this season having joined over summer

Ward-Prowse ha earned 11 caps and scored two goals for England under Gareth Southgate

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‘Yeah, huge disappointment [not to be selected for England duty],’ he admitted to TNT Sports after the game. 

‘Like I said many times in interviews, you can only control what you can control as a player, and that’s playing to a certain level that you believe is good enough to be in that squad.

‘It’s important that you play regularly and I’m doing both at the minute. I feel like I’m in a good place, and it’s not gone my way.

‘But I’m focused on West Ham, doing my best for this club and enjoying every minute of it, so long that may that continue.’

Ward-Prowse is without an international call up since September 2022, where he was left on the bench for clashes with Hungary and Italy in the Nations League. 

He has not actually won a cap since June, earning his 11th in a drab 0-0 draw with Italy, and he has scored twice under Southgate in 2021.

Last term saw him ply his trade as captain of Southampton, which may have impacted Southgate’s view given their torrid season, however he is now starring for a side in Europe’s second-tier competition.

Kalvin Phillips has been consistently called up to the squad despite struggling for minutes at Manchester City

Jordan Henderson has retained his place despite a move to Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League

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