Topics: England, Arsenal, Ben White, Gareth Southgate, Conor Coady, Premier League, Football
An England star has spoken about what Ben White was like around the Three Lions camp.
Last week, England manager Gareth Southgate admitted White “didn’t want to be considered” for an England call-up.
White was absent as Southgate announced his squad for friendlies against Belgium and Brazil on Wednesday. The Arsenal defender has not featured for the Three Lions since leaving the World Cup camp in November 2022.
Amid much online speculation as to why White has opted to snub an England call-up, his former international colleague Conor Coady sang the 26-year-old’s praises.
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Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Coady said: “When I was in the England squad and he was, he was a great character to have around the place.
“He is a great lad, first and foremost. How he trains, how he goes on about his business, he is top top drawer.”
Explaining White’s absence from the England squad Southgate said last week: "We had a call from [Arsenal's sporting director] Edu last week saying Ben didn't want to be considered for England squads at the moment.
"I spoke to him post-Qatar and there was reticence from his side. I don't know why that is, but I respect that. I leave the door open because he's a good player.
"There is no issue between us at all and there's also no issue with [assistant manager] Steve Holland, which has been mentioned in articles, and I don't like that.
"I have to accept things are false about me, but I'm not prepared for that to happen to my coaching team. That is not the reason Ben is not with us."
Southgate however, insisted that White still had an England future.
"I want that door wide open," he replied. "He would be in this squad, but he's not available to us."
