Possibly Dwight for England

[ClaretTony]

Just look at the squad, some jokes in there and yet a player who played all 38 Premier League games last season doesn't get in.

Max Aarons - Norwich
Brandon Austin - Tottenham
Jude Bellingham - Borussia Dortmund
Rhian Brewster - Liverpool
Josef Bursik - Doncaster (loan from Stoke)
Todd Cantwell - Norwich
Josh Dasilva -Brentford
Tom Davies - Everton
Ebere Eze - QPR
Conor Gallagher - Chelsea
Ben Godfrey - Norwich
Marc Guehi - Chelsea
Callum Hudson-Odoi - Chelsea
Reece James - Chelsea
James Justin - Leicester
Lloyd Kelly - Bournemouth
Reiss Nelson - Arsenal
Eddie Nketiah - Arsenal
Jonathan Panzo - AS Monaco
Aaron Ramsdale - Sheffield United
Bukayo Saka - Arsenal
Ryan Sessegnon - Tottenham
Oliver Skipp – Norwich (loan from Tottenham)

[FactualFrank]

Clearly not a football decision, so the big question is... why?

[Bigvince]

I’m absolutely appalled, there isn’t a single Leeds player in that squad

[Bigvince]

I hope he hasn’t ruled himself out because a move is on the cards, and he doesn’t want to get injured. His absence from the squad is baffling

[Mattster]

Either he's injured or Burnley have requested he doesn't get called up for these games in order to focus on preseason prep with us.

If it's not those then if you combine it with the Tarkwoski and Taylor omissions (when there's not fit left backs) then is the England setup trying to encourage our better players to move to a team that plays a system they approve of as opposed to Dyche's current system which they don't feel fits in with Southgate's philosophy? I remember Southgate saying things about how our players aren't compatible when Barnes was being mooted for a call up early last season.

[MT03ALG]

How on earth can a player from Doncaster Rovers be selected instead of Dwight ? The mind boggles !!

[Conroy92]

Terrible news for us as a club, Tarks and Dwight will now both be pushing to move on as it looks as though they won't get selected playing for us.

[wilks_bfc]

He’s sad that he hasn’t been selected

[Bordeauxclaret]

Surely he must be injured to not get in that squad?

[wilks_bfc]

And just for balance

[ArmchairDetective]

Cast on his wrist? Might explain his exclusion. Injured?

[BOYSIE31]

To be fair after lockdown he was under par but should still be in before some of that lot.


Tarks and Mc Neil now know they need to move on to get recognition from England - that is certain now.

[wilks_bfc]

Cast on his wrist? Might explain his exclusion. Injured?

He’s had that on for weeks and was playing the final few games with it on

[BurnleyFC]

**** the national team.

I’m beginning to understand why the scousers and the mancs have never really bothered supporting them.

[warksclaret]

That is an insult to the lad (unless there is a bona fida reason. For any young player starting every PL game and not being subbed at all, and finishing in the top half of the table is an amazing achievement and says everything about Dwight. Whats amazing when Burnley are featured pundits single him out as a brilliant player who is going to the top. Sorry but some of those names in the squad are outstanding, others have yet to play in the PL and are unproven.

[mybloodisclaret]

Obviously gutted for Dwight and Tarks, however just realised we are playing Iceland, please tell me JBG has not been picked for them or else he is probably going to be out injured until Xmas

[NottsClaret]

On the plus side Dwight doesn't have to join up with Aidy Boothroyd

Still blows my mind we put the country’s brightest talents in the hands of that failed dinosaur. Dwight is better off out of it.

As for Mings in the senior squad.. Southgate is losing the plot here.

[Clarets4me]

Stop Press ....

Gareth Southgate has called up Chelsea defender, Ron Harris to replace Harry Maguire for the forthcoming Internationals. " Chelsea have had a great season " said Gareth, " a justified reward for an uncapped player, who's impressed at U23 level ".
When it was pointed out that Ron's last appearance for the U23's was in 1968, and that Ron is now 75, Mr Southgate replied " Ron's been overlooked by previous England managers, it's a great chance to resurrect his international career and after all, he does play for Chelsea "

[FactualFrank]

Stop Press ....

Gareth Southgate has called up Chelsea defender, Ron Harris to replace Harry Maguire for the forthcoming Internationals. " Chelsea have had a great season " said Gareth, " a justified reward for an uncapped player, who's impressed at U23 level ".
When it was pointed out that Ron's last appearance for the U23's was in 1968, and that Ron is now 75, Mr Southgate replied " Ron's been overlooked by previous England managers, it's a great chance to resurrect his international career and after all, he does play for Chelsea "

I think he'd have called up Rolf Harris before Tarkowski.

[NottsClaret]

I think he'd have called up Rolf Harris before Tarkowski.

Not for the u21s mind.

[Granny WeatherWax]

This is almost laughable, there has got to be something else at play here. Pope picks himself but has Southgate had a massive falling out with the club or something?

[Colburn_Claret]

I was wondering if there is something else behind it.
He did used to manage Boro, is he doing Steve Gibson a favour. Tarks and Dwights omission could be a blessing in disguise for the club and fans, but on a personal level must be shocking, especially looking at the CVs of those selected.

I suggest they go out this season and embarrass the knob, by playing their best football ever.

[gandhisflipflop]

SSN presenter about 15 mins ago read out the up and coming talents for the national side to highlight the depth we have at u21 level. He read out every single name other than Dwight McNeil, he even mentioned eze and some lad at bloody Brentford! Now I don't usually buy into this 'everybody hates us' mentality some fans have at Burnley but that was inexcusable.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

John Angus. 1 cap
Brian Miller. 1 cap
Ray Pointer. 3 caps, 2 goals
Jimmy Robson. 0 caps
Gordon Harris. 1 cap
Brian O’Neil. 0 caps
Jimmy Adamson, Footballer of the year. 0 caps

Do you see a pattern here. All super talented footballers in highly successful Burnley sides.

[Clarets4me]

I suspect Jimmy Adamson has the distinction of being the only " Footballer of the Year " never to play International football ....

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

I suspect Jimmy Adamson has the distinction of being the only " Footballer of the Year " never to play International football ....

Tony Book at Man C.

[claptrappers_union]

SSN presenter about 15 mins ago read out the up and coming talents for the national side to highlight the depth we have at u21 level. He read out every single name other than Dwight McNeil, he even mentioned eze and some lad at bloody Brentford! Now I don't usually buy into this 'everybody hates us' mentality some fans have at Burnley but that was inexcusable.

I don't think its an 'everybody hates us' thing - we are just forgotten about.

[gandhisflipflop]

We are forgotten about but there is a definitely an element of paranoia in our fanbase that nobody likes Burnley IMO.

[Papabendi]

Tarkowski can count himself unlucky for sure - but how many fans outside of Burnley are banging on the door for his inclusion? A little telling I suspect. And remember in the games he has played to date he has been far from convincing at that level. Not saying that counts him out for a second shot at it.

As for Dwight - long way short as of now to get in in front of his competition. The post COVID games in particular did not do him any favours at all.

[Longsidelenny1882]

Dwight not ready for a full cap just yet needs to score more goals for me utc

[ClaretAndBlue94]

Tarkowski can count himself unlucky for sure - but how many fans outside of Burnley are banging on the door for his inclusion? A little telling I suspect. And remember in the games he has played to date he has been far from convincing at that level. Not saying that counts him out for a second shot at it.

As for Dwight - long way short as of now to get in in front of his competition. The post COVID games in particular did not do him any favours at all.

Short of the main national team yes - But surely he is worth a call for 21s ?

[warksclaret]

I think Tarks has been outstanding and I would have thought his recent form elevated him above several others. Can only assume Southgate did not like his last performance where he did not play that well alongside Stones

[timshorts]

How on earth can a player from Doncaster Rovers be selected instead of Dwight ? The mind boggles !!

He's a goalkeeper that looks like matt damon.

If Southgate is picking the team, the second bit may be the more important. Norwich are well represented and they are no better supported than us.

[Vino blanco]

Living in Spain and watching a lot of sport in the local sports bars I meet up with a lot of expats who are supporters of every club you can think of, from Accrington and Northampton to Spurs and Chelsea . Many of them, nay nearly all of them, rate Pope and Tarks extremely highly and many of the lads who support the bigger clubs would love to sign Pope and Tarks. I posted elsewhere that my Spurs supporting mate texted me yesterday as follows "I can't believe Dier is in the England squad and your captain Tarkowski isn't in there". So I can only say, in my experience, those two players are very highly thought of.

[Conroy92]

Currently I think VVD and Laporte are the only other two better centre halfs in this league ahead of Tarkowski. Tarks is nearly twice as good as Michael Keane.
I must admit, I thought Grealish would have been selected in the full squad, rather than McNeil, so no suprise for me.
To leave him out of the under 21's though is criminal.

I think we have another player who's been very unlucky this season to not get a look in. Phillips is a good player but still unproven in the prem, step forward Westwood with a good number of assists and has played well all year... in the prem.
Westwood also adds something different with the corner speciality. Imagine how many Kane and slab head Maguire would net?!

The choices are baffling!

[Vegas Claret]

even our Scottish reporter friend can't see the logic

[exilecanada]

McNeil not in under 21 squad is beyond ridiculous, surely there's something going on behind the scenes we're not privy to!

[boatshed bill]

I guess that if our intention is to play with 3 at the back and wing backs then it's highly unlikely that we would use an orthodox left-winger.

[Devils_Advocate]

Dont the U21's try to build teams in 2 year cycles so players who wont be eligible for the next big tournament are left out from the start. I know with Covid this may have changed the dates and schedule a bit but I always thought this is how they approached the U21s and was a good way of doing so

Also if Southgate see's a future for Dwight as part of the main squad over the next 12 months then it makes sense to try and give a place in the U21s for the next potential Dwight

Alternatively it could be that everybody really does hate Burnley but as im not as mental as Alex Jones I can see this view is utter nonsense

[aggi]

Dont the U21's try to build teams in 2 year cycles so players who wont be eligible for the next big tournament are left out from the start. I know with Covid this may have changed the dates and schedule a bit but I always thought this is how they approached the U21s and was a good way of doing so

Also if Southgate see's a future for Dwight as part of the main squad over the next 12 months then it makes sense to try and give a place in the U21s for the next potential Dwight

Alternatively it could be that everybody really does hate Burnley but as im not as mental as Alex Jones I can see this view is utter nonsense

McNeil is younger than half the squad though so this is unlikely to be the reason.

[Devils_Advocate]

McNeil is younger than half the squad though so this is unlikely to be the reason.

It depends how many of those players are knocking on the door of the first team squad. Its not an exact science but was just providing a few reasons and ways of thinking that leads to Dwight not being picked that are more likely to be true than some vendetta against Burnley

I would guess that the objective of the U21s isnt to always pick the best team and do everything to win every game but there is a balance and bigger picture of bringing young promising players through and developing them towards full international football.

If Dwight doesnt make the step up then he might go back to the U21s and Im sure with all the Covid stuff they will be looking to mix things up in a bit anyhow.

As I say there is no way Dwight is not seen as good enough for the U21s and it is ludicrous to think that players are not picked because they are Burnley players so there must be some other reason. I've given a few ideas and open for other people to come up with some better ones (than everyone hates Burnley)

[Bigvince]

Surely the only reason he should have been omitted from the under 21 squad, would have been if he’d been in the full squad!
IMHO I don’t think he’s ready for the full squad yet, definitely in the future tho

[Corky]

Have the Club/Manager made any sort of comment regarding these omissions.

[Dyched]

Terrible news for us as a club, Tarks and Dwight will now both be pushing to move on as it looks as though they won't get selected playing for us.

Tarks had played for England whilst with us. So did Heaton and Pope and Keane.

Tarks and Dwight are just the latest Burnley players some fans have a hard on for and think their the greatest players ever. We had it with Heaton, Keane, Mee (Still do from some)

[Foulthrow]

The problem is this will damage Burnley in the long term. Prospective transfer targets may well not join Burnley if they think it may harm their international chances. And Pope, Tarks and McNeil may feel they have to leave to get selected for England. It’s concerning.