- White was not included in the first England squad under interim manager Carsley.
- The Arsenal defender has not changed his stance since Southgate’s departure
- LISTEN NOW: Everything is just beginning!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
England caretaker manager Lee Carsley has revealed Ben White was still unavailable for selection after naming his first-team squad.
Carsley has named a 26-man squad for the Three Lions’ upcoming Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Marcus Rashford and Kyle Walker were among the omissions, while four uncapped players – Noni Madueke, Morgan Gibbs-White, Tino Livramento and Angel Gomes – were in the squad.
Attention had been focused on whether White would be named in Carsley’s squad following the departures of former manager Gareth Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland.
However, White was not named in the squad, and when asked about this at his press conference, Carsley said: “AAs far as I know, I was not available for selection and nothing has changed in my two weeks. That’s where we are.
Lee Carsley (right) says Ben White (left) was not yet available for England selection
White has shown no change in his stance despite Gareth Southgate (right) and Steve Holland (left) leaving the England squad.
White has not featured in an England squad since leaving their 2022 World Cup training camp.
“I’ve seen press reports that he’s willing to do it, but nothing has changed. He’s declared himself unavailable for selection, so I’m not sure what to make of that.”
White left England’s 2022 World Cup camp midway through the tournament in mysterious circumstances, but it has since emerged that a disagreement with the former Dutchman was at the root of the 26-year-old’s decision.
Southgate’s assistant is reported to have asked Walker a question relating to Manchester City’s performances last season, before putting the same question to White regarding Arsenal.
The 26-year-old allegedly claimed he didn’t know the answer, prompting Holland to claim it was due to his lack of interest in football.
The conversation is said to have taken place in front of other members of the squad.
There had been suggestions that White would be released from his self-imposed exclusion once Holland was no longer on staff, but the Arsenal star has not expressed a change of heart.
But White is understood to have not expressed a change of heart since the departure of Southgate and Holland and the expectation is that he will not be included.
