England interim manager Gareth Southgate announced his first squad as the national team manager on Sunday, just a week after taking over from the disgraced Sam Allardyce.
61-year-old Allardyce saw his 67-day tenure come to an abrupt end last week after he was filmed by undercover reporters suggesting how to get around FA third-party ownership rules, an action the FA deemed ‘inappropriate of the England manager’.
Allardyce subsequently agreed to leave his post and former Middlesbrough boss Southgate was placed in temporary charge.
His first duty as manager consisted of selecting a 23-man squad for World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia – a selection which included a few surprise names.
Glen Johnson was recalled to the side two years after his last appearances for the Three Lions, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gets rewarded for a decent start to the season for Arsenal by making the 23.
However, it is the inclusion of two Manchester United youngsters, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, that is most intriguing, and many fans took to Twitter to express their views on the decision.
Unsurprisingly, many had high praise for Rashford, who was surprisingly omitted from Allardyce’s first and only squad last month…
rashford is the best young player out there – start the kid
— Jago (@JagoSims) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/3crowndan/status/782862568272621568
So glad rashford is back in the England squad, been playing well his season and need someone who is hungry to play
— JACK (@jackbraine) October 2, 2016
One Manchester United fan was delighted to see four Red Devils in the squad, with the aforementioned two joining Chris Smalling and Wayne Rooney, yet had mixed views on whether both Rashford and Lingard deserved a call-up…
Congratulations to Rooney, Smalling, Rashford and Lingard for their England callups. Rashford, well deserved. Lingard, not so sure. #MUFC
— . (@BeastFosuMensah) October 3, 2016
Some shared a similar view with regard to Lingard’s selection…
Don't see how lingard deserves a spot https://t.co/Pe0zqdsbl2
— Ben (@mufcben_) October 3, 2016
Lingard in the England squad… really?
I guess he's there to take photos, manage the official snapchat account & be Rashford mate #England
— Craig Chad (@Craig_Chadd) October 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/SBarnard5/status/782887117777211392
However, there were a few that praised Southgate’s inclusion of an exciting youngster…
#England squad is rather safe if you ask me… Southgate did pick Rashford and Lingard though. Glen Johnson should be on bench
— Terry (@TMacReturns) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/ChokeOnMatip/status/782858309611188225