'Tomori's ahead of him' - Wilshere gives Maguire verdict as England squad announced

The Manchester United defender has endured a tough campaign after falling down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag, starting just one Premier League match since August 13.

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The 29-year-old is a player trusted by Gareth Southgate, however, his inclusion contributed to the likes of Tomori being left out.

After leaving Chelsea in the summer of 2021, the 24-year-old has proven himself as a top performer in Italy by winning the Serie A title with AC Milan and really taking his game to a new level.

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With Wilshere suggesting that Tomori should have been on the plane, he believes that the idea of Maguire being a 'favourite' at international level is a little bit odd.

Speaking on talkSPORT Drive, Wilshere said: "It's tough because I can see a club manager having favourites, but I think it's hard doing that internationally.

"Firstly, you don't see them a lot. I was listening to the show when I was driving in and it was Adrian Durham saying that when he's played for England he hasn't put a foot wrong and he's right, but I don't think that's enough to get you in the starting XI.

"He will play. Harry will play, that's almost 100 per cent because of the way that Gareth sees him.

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"It's difficult to have favourites at international level. He's obviously not playing at Manchester United for a reason, the manager has come in and he's seen that he's not good enough to play in that team, but he's good enough to play in England's team, so it's difficult finding that balance.

"I'm not sure if I'd play him or not. If he does play, he'd have to play in a back three, but there's other centre-backs ahead of him, especially Tomori who isn't even on the plane. He's definitely ahead of him."

Tomori's absence was also discussed by ex-England defender Rio Ferdinand, who believes that the AC Milan star, along with the other players who were left out, should use the decision as fuel to help them kick on.

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Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents Five, he said: "The biggest thing I'd like to know is what was said to him. Why was he not taken and what were the reasons for it?

"I think that's important because I remember when I was told I wasn't going by Kevin Keegan [at Euro 2000] and it was 'if you were Brazilian, Italian or German you'd have been playing with about 20 caps by now'.

"I was sitting there confused thinking that we're way behind those teams, but what I would say to those players who are disappointed at this moment is that this is the time where you put the manager's face on the wall, every wall in your house, and you use that as fuel. That's what I think.

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"That catapulted me to being more professional, more driven. I used it as fuel. I don't think that you can let that derail off your journey of becoming a top player."