Football pundit Paul Merson has blasted Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and said that he did not deserve to be called up to the England squad by Gareth Southgate.
After moving to the Reds from Arsenal during the summer transfer window, Oxlade-Chamberlain has yet to earn himself a Premier League start for the Reds and is trying to win himself a place in Jurgen Klopp’s first team plans.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is highly talented and can operate in a central or wide position; however he has proven to be inconsistent with his performances.
Merson now believes that the player should not have been included in the Three Lions squad but added that the lack of options which Southgate has to call upon helped him win selection.
He said, “You look in midfield and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be very fortunate to play [for England]. In my day and age he wouldn’t even be in the squad.
“That’s the problem now, the squad virtually picks itself. There’s not a huge amount of depth and it is harder to get out of the squad than it is to get in it.”
