Former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor has told Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold to “retire” until England get a new manager.
The Liverpool defender was left out of Gareth Southgate’s 23-man England squad to face Germany on Monday night in a match the Three Lions drew 3-3.
Until Monday the pressure was building on Southgate for their lack of goals despite numerous talented attacking players in their squad.
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Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute for England as they lost 1-0 to Italy in their first match of the international break and he will go back to Liverpool having not played a minute of action.
And former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor reckons Alexander-Arnold should “retire” and then immediately come back out of retirement when the Three Lions appoint a different manager in the future. That’s not really retiring then is it, Gabby?
“If I was Trent, I would retire from international duty if I don’t get in the World Cup squad,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.
“I would retire until a new manager took charge of England. 100 per cent.
“What’s the point going away on these international breaks? You can stay with your club, rest and prepare yourself for Liverpool.
“For Southgate to come out and say Trippier is all-round better than Trent, I think that’s an insult.
“I do like Trippier but Trent is an all-round better player. Walker and James are better than Trent, but don’t say Trippier.
“Come on. The joke’s over, Gareth.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he did retire because we’ve seen players in the past retire because they weren’t playing for England.”
Former Liverpool star John Barnes thinks Alexander-Arnold should be in the squad and reckons the right-back can offer a lot to Southgate’s squad.
“I don’t think you should retire,” Barnes told talkSPORT.
“When you go with the England squad and there are more than 20 of you, only 11 are going to start. If the other players all said, ‘I’m not going because I’m not going to play’, it means only 11 would go.
“I think Trent is very valuable, depending on who you’re playing. He is a very creative, attacking right-back. When you’re playing against teams you should beat, Trent is your man, if you want to create and score goals.
“Then maybe, if you’re playing against Brazil or France, you play someone else. He should be in the squad.”