West Ham first-team coach Stuart Pearce has admitted he was disappointed to see loan star Jesse Lingard left out of the final England squad for Euro 2020.
The 28-year-old attacking midfielder had earned a recall into the national team frame under Gareth Southgate after transforming his season when joining the Hammers from Manchester United on loan.
During the short term stay in east London, Lingard netted nine Premier League goals and registered five assists in just 16 games – earning a place in Southgate’s provisional 33-man group.
However, the popular ace missed out on the final squad and Pearce has told talkSPORT Breakfast, as cited by the station’s official Twitter account, that it was a blow to see Lingard omitted.
We’re really disappointed (he’s not in the Euro 2020 squad). I’m delighted he’s with the squad and might be playing this evening, which will be fantastic and will be another opportunity for him to say ‘Gareth, if you need me I’m here’. It shows a fair bit about the character of the boys who want to be there. I don’t think he could have done any more, baring in mind he came from the outside. At Christmas time, nobody was talking about Jesse being involved in the England squad this summer.
The 59-year-old, himself a former England man on 78 occasions, went on to praise the ‘outstanding’ work done by Lingard and how an injury could still see the ace land a spot at the upcoming Euros – a spot Pearce would’ve found in the initial 26.
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Although the England squad may be bristling with talent in the forward areas, based on form alone it’s difficult to understand why the loanee didn’t make the cut.
Perhaps more important than pending international matters, David Moyes, Pearce and co will be hoping to tie down Lingard’s future as an Iron if possible this summer.
