England’s interim manager, Lee Carsley, has confirmed that Ben White is not currently being considered for selection for the upcoming October internationals, although he emphasized that the Arsenal defender could still return to the national team in the future.
White, who has been regarded as one of the Premier League’s top defenders, has not played for the England national team for nearly two years. His absence began after he left the squad during the 2022 World Cup, and subsequently informed then-manager Gareth Southgate that he no longer wished to be considered for future selection.
Reports have suggested that White’s decision to step away from the England squad was related to a disagreement with assistant coach Steve Holland during the World Cup.
This disagreement has significantly impacted his international career, limiting him to just four senior appearances for the Three Lions since his debut in 2021. Despite White’s consistent performances at the club level with Arsenal, his time with the national team has been curtailed due to this conflict.
Since taking over as England’s interim manager following Southgate’s departure, Carsley has not selected White for any of England’s recent fixtures, including their September matches in the Nations League against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
After England’s 2-0 victory over Finland, Carsley was asked if he had any plans to reach out to White ahead of the October fixtures.
He responded candidly, stating, “I’ve not planned to, no.” Carsley explained that during the squad selection process, White’s name had come up, but there was no intention to contact him. “Every player that is eligible to play for England is in with a chance,” Carsley added. “As far as I’m aware, he asked to not be contacted. If that changes, that will change.”
Carsley also stressed the importance of maintaining strong competition for places within the squad. “I think it is important that we have real competition all over the pitch, and the more players we have available to pick from, the better it is,” he stated.
This comment reflects his broader philosophy on team selection, where he values having a wide range of talented players to choose from, ensuring that every position on the field has strong contenders.
In White’s absence, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has been the preferred choice at right-back for both of England’s recent victories. Under Southgate’s management at Euro 2024, Alexander-Arnold had been experimented with in a midfield role, but Carsley opted to utilize him in his natural right-back position, where he performed effectively in both matches.
The situation surrounding Ben White’s future with the England squad remains uncertain. While Carsley has left the door open for a potential return, it appears that any change in White’s status will depend on the player’s own willingness to be reconsidered for selection.
For now, England continues to move forward without him, focusing on the upcoming international fixtures and the ongoing development of their squad under the interim management of Carsley.
