Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

'Get over it' - talkSPORT hosts clash over Ben White's England return

talksport.com, 18 November 2024, 13:55
Martin Keown and Simon Jordan were involved in a fierce debate as the topic of Ben White's England future reared its head again.

The Arsenal star is currently out of the England reckoning after withdrawing himself from contention for the Three Lions.

It comes after the defender flew home from England's World Cup camp in Qatar in late 2022 - the last time that he was part of the national team setup.

White has not featured for England in nearly two years under the leadership of Gareth Southgate or Lee Carsley, however the appointment of Thomas Tuchel could represent a fresh opportunity for the 27-year-old.

It's talkSPORT's understanding that White will make a U-turn and declare himself available for selection.

But with the public perception being that he has turned his back on his country, the topic sparked a heated debate between Jordan and Keown.

READ MORE ON ENGLAND

England legend 'bewildered' by Thomas Tuchel holiday decision

England hero Harry Kane could soon have a goal record that will never be broken

Asked if White could be recalled, Keown told White and Jordan: "I think it's a little bit disrespectful to go to that topic when we've not yet spoken about Morgan Rogers, Taylor Harwood-Bellis who got a chance from nowhere, Conor Gallagher too.

"You're talking about Ben White who has just had a procedure on his knee and needs to get into the Arsenal team first before he gets into the England team.

"But I think it would be good news if he was available because it's an area where we need better, more experienced players."

Jordan interrupted, saying: "You've been praising the culture of players who want to play for England - here's a player who doesn't want to play for England and now because he's playing for Arsenal you're advocating that he can get back into the England fold!"

Most read in Football

Harry Kane statue hidden away for five years finally unveiled - and fans are in disbelief

England legend 'bewildered' by Thomas Tuchel holiday decision

Rodrigo Bentancur handed lengthy ban and will miss Tottenham's nightmare fixture run

Arsenal hit with fresh injury headache as star man forced off during international game

It is understood White left Qatar 2022 due to a disagreement with former assistant coach Steve Holland under Gareth Southgate.

Holland has now departed his role with the Three Lions following Southgate's exit.

Keown continued by saying: "I'm saying that we need to hold the door open because we're not blessed with experienced players in that position.

"Why is it an exception? He's fallen out with Steve Holland by all accounts and neither man wanted to back down - we're not privy to the conversation, okay?

"For me it doesn't really matter at the moment because he's not fit and available and hasn't declared anything publicly.

"When he does, then there's a different conversation."

Jordan, who believes that White's England days could be over, replied: "I think you have to take the rough with the smooth and Martin will attest to the point that you judge people in adversity, not when things are going your way.

"He doesn't get on with Steve Holland so he decides he wants to exclude himself when his nation needs him in a tournament - 'not for me thanks, doesn't suit me'.

"To my mind, from an outsider looking in, I don't think that's acceptable.

"I don't think that's the mentality and culture that you want in the trenches when it gets dirty.

"If there is fuel to the fire that he didn't get on with Steve Holland then so what? Get over it.

"Get past it, be a man and have some character - the kind of character that separates winners from losers and people that can achieve and overcome adversity, bite down on your gumshield and represent your country.

"It was John F Kennedy who said 'don't ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country' - where was Ben White? On his sunbed looking at himself in a mirror.

"The privilege that you've got is to be called up for your country and if you don't think that's a privilege because you've had some hurty words with somebody then you're not the kind of person I think we should be talking about."

But Keown took a much more sympathetic view, saying: "When you play for your country you stand in that tunnel and you represent everybody, so to get that far and allow someone to snatch that away, that wouldn't have been me.

"But I'm not privy to the conversation.

"If he needed help with that then I'd love to support him and get him back in the fold, but I don't think we should slam the door in his face as other people have said.

Arsenal fan defends Ben White & Claims he is 'BETTER' than Reece James!

"I think we should be a little bit more understanding because he's someone who can add real value to the England team and Thomas Tuchel will be looking at what he brings on the pitch and not the bigger picture."

Despite starring for the Gunners during the 2023/24 campaign, White held firm on his stance for Euro 2024.

Read More on talkSPORT

Keane has Wright in stitches after future son-in-law Harwood-Bellis scores against Ireland

Mike Tyson 'almost died' before Jake Paul fight as he says 'I lost half my blood'

His last England appearance came against the Ivory Coast in an international friendly in March 2022.

White has made four appearances for the Three Lions in total.

Show more

Top News

15 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool vs Newcastle. Reds against Magpies. Two hugely passionate fanbases. But just one trophy up for grabs at Wembley. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The poor performances of Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota have given Liverpool boss Arne Slot an unwelcome selection dilemma ahead of the EFL Cup final, Reds expert David Lynch has argued. 15 March 2025 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe's brace over Villarreal etched his name into the history books once more as he overtook Ronaldo's impressive record. 15 March 2025 talksport.com If Huddersfield Town supporters didn't already love Jon Worthington for his exploits as a player, then his first game in charge will endear him even more. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will welcome Barcelona to Wanda Metropolitano in La Liga on Sunday night. 15 March 2025 talksport.com Dele Alli's Como debut ended in disaster after he was sent off less than ten minutes after coming off the bench in a 2-1 loss to AC Milan. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fenerbahce are reported to have received an offer for Manchester United target Yusuf Akcicek from a Premier League club. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid came from behind to record a 2-1 victory over Villarreal in Saturday evening's key La Liga contest at Estadio de la Ceramica. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ruud van Nistelrooy welcomes his former club, Manchester United, to the King Power Stadium this weekend, as his Leicester City side search for their first win in almost two months. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reported to be in pole position to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi ahead of Newcastle United in the summer transfer window. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the fitness of Manchester City duo Ederson and Bernardo Silva. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Head coach Vitor Pereira has insisted that his Wolverhampton Wanderers squad "cannot sleep" after their 2-1 victory at Southampton on Saturday afternoon. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez has claimed Liverpool held interest in signing the player from Manchester City before he left England last summer. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton fought West Ham United to a 1-1 stalemate at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League and continued their impressive form under David Moyes. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have missed the opportunity to climb back into the top four of the Premier League after being held to an entertaining 2-2 draw by fellow Champions League hopefuls Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 15 March 2025 talksport.com A Haji Wright hat-trick has helped Frank Lampard's Coventry City claim one of their biggest scalps this season. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Anthony Elanga bagged a brace as Nottingham Forest moved to within one point of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League table with a 4-2 win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The reigning champions meet the desperate contenders in Sunday's EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium, where Liverpool and Newcastle United collide in a mouthwatering showpiece event. 15 March 2025 talksport.com The BBC will no longer show England's Six Nations games as they have struck a new deal with ITV. 15 March 2025 talksport.com Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly warned staff to expect major fan disruption during Sunday's clash against Marseille. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly determined to bring Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres to Old Trafford during this summer's transfer window. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has said that he is expecting Gavi to stay "for many years" at Camp Nou amid speculation surrounding a potential move away from the Catalan giants. 15 March 2025 talksport.com Erling Haaland has made Premier League history yet again with his latest goal for Manchester City. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly failed with a €65m (£55m) bid for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, but the Catalan club's head coach Hansi Flick is unsure whether the Dutchman will sign a new deal at Camp Nou. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Deportivo La Coruna will be aiming to move closer to the Segunda Division playoff spots when they continue their campaign with a contest against Castellon on Monday night. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has made a total of four changes to his Manchester City starting lineup for afternoon's Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium. 15 March 2025 talksport.com Six permanent managers have followed Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement at Manchester United, but there's only one Sir Jim Ratcliffe would have avoided. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham will endeavour to stretch their unbeaten run over Tottenham Hotspur to three matches when they host the Lilywhites at Craven Cottage in Sunday's Premier League London derby. 15 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea can close the gap to top-four adversaries Arsenal to just three points in the Premier League table when they take on their London rivals on Sunday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium. 15 March 2025 talksport.com David Bentley has revealed the reason behind his decision to retire before turning 30.