Do players have to play for a top club to get picked for England?

Dominic Solanke scored 19 goals in 38 Premier League games last season, and 21 in 42 in all competitions. That put him joint second on the list of top English goalscorers, behind Cole Palmer and level with Phil Foden and Ollie Watkins. The other three players were all selected in Gareth Southgate’s final England squad for the European championships.

A goals per game ratio of 1:2 is to be respected in any environment, let alone in an unfancied Bournemouth side. In the early stages of this season he has continued in that vein, scoring 2 goals in 4 games despite injury frustration. 

Why then, has it taken until now for Solanke to get a call up? His form has not markedly changed since last season. One could easily argue that he should score more goals in a more creative Tottenham side with the likes of James Maddison providing goalscoring opportunities.

Perhaps it can simply be attributed to timing. England entered Euro 2024 with a settled squad of players who were trusted by the previous manager. A new manager and a new tournament cycle inevitably brings new faces. 

Indeed, Carsley might argue that he has demonstrated his willingness to select from less fashionable clubs and might point to the inclusion of Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) and Angel Gomes (Lille) as evidence. However, Carsley has worked with both of those players previously, notably during England U21s’ successful 2023 campaign. Would they have been on his radar otherwise?

Solanke is dynamic and defends from the front, often putting the needs of the team above his own selfish desires. This, combined with an increased confidence in front of goal, convinced Spurs to splash £55m+ on the 27-year-old. It may also be what has attracted Carsley’s eye. England’s interim manager earned plaudits for his fast, fluid football while managing the junior side. 

Rightly or wrongly, though, one can’t help but feel that Solanke wouldn’t have been called up had he still played for Bournemouth. Whether that is true or not is largely irrelevant. If fans are feeling it, players are probably feeling it too. Players like Solanke may therefore seek to force moves away from ‘smaller’ clubs in the hope of gaining international honours that they should have already earned on merit. 

Let’s hope that going forward the England scouting system is sufficiently sophisticated to identify talent from the twelfth best team in the country. For the sake of all stakeholders.

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By Leon Parrott