- Raheem Sterling has not been part of the England squad since the World Cup last year
- Despite his impressive form, he has fallen out of favor with Gareth Southgate
- Southgate’s loyalty to his players is a problem and a weakness It all starts
Jermain Defoe and Joleon Lescott were both baffled by Raheem Sterling’s repeated omission in England.
The Chelsea forward’s exile at the Three Lions continued as Gareth Southgate left him out of his group for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia despite his impressive club form.
Sterling has scored 20 goals in 82 caps for England but has not played for the national team since last year’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to France when he came off the bench.
He was injured in the opening qualifiers for Euro 2024 in March but has been unable to regain his England place in the four subsequent squads.
And ahead of Friday’s match against Malta at Wembley, the former England duo could not quite understand why Sterling had fallen out of favor with Southgate.
Jermain Defoe (second from left) and Joleon Lescott (second from right) were baffled by the continued omission of Raheem Sterling from Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Sterling was in good form for Chelsea but was ruled out for this month’s international matches
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“Even in previous squads he wasn’t involved (is strange),” Defoe said Channel 4.
‘He has been one of the better players in England in recent years. With the current form he not only ends up in the selection, but also starts in a match like this. He deserves to be in this team.’
Lescott – who won 26 caps for his country during his career – agreed with Defoe, adding: “He is arguably as in shape as anyone else.
‘It will be a reason that Sterling won’t understand. If you are not selected, you tend not to understand.
‘(But) Southgate knows that if he calls on Sterling in a major tournament he will go the extra mile.’
Sterling has not played for England since last year’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to France
The 28-year-old forward has now missed Southgate’s last five England squads
The 28-year-old made his international debut over a decade ago in a friendly against Sweden in 2012.
He has shown signs of getting back to his best this season after a difficult debut season at Stamford Bridge following his move from Man City last summer.
Sterling has scored four goals and added two assists in twelve Premier League appearances.
The attacker will return to action after the international break when Chelsea travel to Newcastle on November 25.