It has been six years since a Newcastle United player was last named in an England squad. No one since former Magpies winger Andros Townsend in 2016 has received a call-up to represent the Three Lions, which perhaps is an indicator of how Newcastle have struggled on the pitch in recent seasons.
However, with another World Cup on the horizon at the end of the year, English players from across the Premier League will no doubt be raising their game that little bit extra in the hope of receiving a phone call from Gareth Southgate. So, with that in mind, here is a look at some of the players Sky Bet believe could be in with a slight shout of making that squad for Qatar 2022.
Freddie Woodman – 28/1
Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is currently in his seventh different loan spell away from St. James’ Park with Championship promotion hopefuls Bournemouth. Woodman has been forced to settle for a backup role with the Cherries due to the form of Mark Travers, meaning it would take a seriously good second half of 2022 to be anywhere near getting a call-up – which is why he is priced at 28/1.
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Karl Darlow – 33/1
Another of the Magpies' goalkeeping contingent Sky Bet have priced as an outsider for a place in the squad is Karl Darlow, who has lost his place at Newcastle to Martin Dubravka. Similarly to Woodman, it is going to take a miraculous second half of the year to even stand half a chance of receiving a call-up.
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Dan Burn – 8/1
Someone who can perhaps count himself unlucky not to have been named in an England squad yet is January signing Dan Burn. Burn is a rare breed among England’s centre back options in that he is left-footed, however Tyrone Mings appears to be Southgate’s preferred player at the moment. If Burn can sustain the form he has shown at both Brighton and Newcastle in the coming months, then maybe he could force his way into the squad.
Joe Willock – 11/1
If Joe Willock had managed to keep up his form from the second half of last season into the current campaign, then he would have almost certainly been named in a squad by now. However, it is only in recent weeks that he has managed to find his best form again, which has probably pushed him fairly low down Southgate’s pecking order.
Callum Wilson – 8/1
Injury problems are probably the main reason for Callum Wilson being behind a number of strikers in the race to be Harry Kane’s England back-up. Other than Kane, no English striker playing in the Premier League have enjoyed particularly good seasons, which has allowed Tammy Abraham of AS Roma to really force his way into Southgate’s plans.
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