Lee Carsley has been slammed for giving ‘his mate’ a surprise spot in his last England squad as interim manager.
Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis earned his first call-up to the senior side having represented the Under-21s 23 times – including during their European U21 Championship win with Carsley as manager.
A defender from the Saints being selected came as a surprise to most due to their poor defensive record in the Premier League this season.
The south coast side currently sit rock-bottom of the top flight table having conceded 21 goals in their first 11 games of the campaign.
Nevertheless, Harwood-Bellis was selected as part of The Three Lions squad to face Greece and Ireland in the Nations League.
And it raised eyebrows in the talkSPORT studio as hosts Rory Jennings and Ade Oladipo reacted.
Oladipo said: “What are we doing here? Are we just giving out caps for the sake of giving out caps?”
In response, Jennings replied: “At least Carsley is doing that. Lee Carsley is just basically giving a cap to his mate.
“It’s like when politicians are on their way out and they give their friend a knighthood. It’s like if Boris Johnson sorted his mates out.
“Playing for England is an honour and it should be something you work incredibly hard to achieve and then it’s a meritocracy, you deserve it.
“Taylor Harwood-Bellis, fine, but there is no way that in a rightful world without a friendship with Lee Carsley that he gets selected.”
During Carsley’s interim tenure he has given debuts to four players he worked with at U21 level – Noni Madueke, Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White and Rico Lewis.
Potentially three more first England caps can be handed out to Curtis Jones, Lewis Hall and Harwood-Bellis in this current squad.
This international break will be the interim manager’s last as senior boss as Thomas Tuchel is set to take over as England head coach.
When asked about Hall and Harwood-Bellis, Carsley said: “Both players who have played a lot of minutes this season, showed they can play at a high level. I know them both really well.
“Taylor is a player who really deserves it, he’s a brilliant captain.”
The 50-year-old confirmed he will return to the U21s, but Tuchel ‘hasn’t had any influence on the squad selection’.
He also gave his thoughts on the German becoming England boss: “I think it’s a really good appointment. We talked about getting a coach with a proven track record and Thomas has that.
“I’m looking forward to watching him work and handing over a strong group of players with potential to win a major tournament to him.”
