Ben White snub sends World Cup message as Aaron…

Ben White snub sends World Cup message as Aaron Ramsdale has point to prove for England

Gareth Southgate has some tough decisions to make as he narrows down his England squad ahead of the World Cup, with Arsenal's Ben White facing a potentially harsh reality check come November.

Southgate is set to name his provisional squad for the tournament on Wednesday 19th October, which is 33 days before kick-off in Qatar. With the final 26-man squad needing to be submitted to FIFA by Sunday 13th November, there is still time to earn - and lose - those seats on the plane, with some huge talking points across the board during the international break.

Despite an impressive show of form from White that has helped secure the Gunners top spot in the Premier League heading into the international break, an expected recall didn't arrive for England's Nations League double-header against Italy and Germany.

Advocates for White's inclusion in Southgate's squad have pointed to the stark contrast in form compared to Harry Maguire, who was demoted to the Manchester United bench after a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Brentford. White's recent exploits operating on the right of Mikel Arteta's defence rather than the middle of a back three offers a theory for the snub. Nevertheless, White's non-selection does not bode well for a World Cup call-up next month.

Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale both looked nailed-on inclusions in Southgate's squad, with many arguing that the latter's form between the sticks with three clean sheets in seven games puts him in contention as the obvious stand-in for injured No1 Jordan Pickford. Newcastle's Nick Pope, however, presents a difficult rival to overcome, and Ramsdale could find himself behind in the pecking order if Southgate believes outright shot-stopping to prove the deciding factor.