Former Premier League striker claims Liverpool star 'doesn't deserve' England call-up

TalkSPORT co-host Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed that Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones does not deserve to be in England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Yesterday saw Gareth Southgate reveal his 33-man preliminary squad for the European Championships in Germany this summer. While it featured plenty of new faces, including Jarell Quansah, it will be trimmed down to a 26-man squad by June 7 meaning seven will miss out. And Agbonlahor believes Jones should be a player that doesn’t make the plane.

“I don’t think Curtis Jones should be called up.” The former Aston Villa forward told Andy Goldstein on TalkSPORT radio. “I don’t think he’s deserved it. Whenever I see him play for Liverpool, he hasn’t done enough. He has two good games and then three bad ones. I think Adam Wharton and Jarrad Branthwaite will be the two that get called up to the 26-man squad.”

For Jones, he is one of a number of players in the squad that are yet to receive their first cap but he has been with England’s youth teams since the age of U15. The 23-year-old has completely turned his career around in the space of a year; he enjoyed a brilliant end of season run last year and, even despite the summer signings, he managed 36 appearances in Jurgen Klopp’s final year, but injuries and suspensions restricted him to just 14 league starts.

Given England’s lack of midfield depth in the deeper midfield positions, Jones has appeared as a good option. Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are likely to be the midfield three fans want to see but, after that, there aren’t a plethora of options. The likes of Adam Wharton, Conor Gallagher and Kobbie Mainoo are the options which makes it extremely difficult for him to break into the set-up, given he started just twice in the league since February.