Crippy Cooke
At the Football Faithful’s UK branch, we’ve taken a look at look at England players who are struggling for Premier League minutes this season.
We’re nearly three months into the new campaign, but several players who have represented England in 2018 can’t get playing time at club level for love nor money.
A number of those who were in England‘s 23-man squad that reached the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia now can’t get playing time for their respective clubs. We’ve picked four players who have represented the Three Lions in 2018 who have played less than 100 minutes at club level this season.
Phil Jones
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The Manchester United defender was in the England squad at the 2018 World Cup but has since racked up just 58 minutes of football in the Premier League. Jones has struggled with injuries at United and may have an uncertain future at Old Trafford as he’s fallen down the pecking order under Jose Mourinho – Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly are ahead of Jones.
Gary Cahill
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The Chelsea centre-back was also in the England squad at the 2018 World Cup and has hardly featured at club level. Cahill has managed only 21 minutes of top-flight football under Maurizio Sarri this season and could be on the move in January – Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz have been preferred at centre-back.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
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Loftus-Cheek was in the England squad at the 2018 World Cup, featuring in the group stages and third-place playoff while playing in an international friendly earlier in November, but he can’t get a sniff for Chelsea this season.
The 22-year-old has amassed 94 minutes of league football under Maurizio Sarri, with Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Ross Barkley and N’Golo Kante preferred in midfield. Loftus-Cheek may have to leave Chelsea to find more opportunities as his hopes of remaining in the England squad may be at risk if he’s not playing.
Nathaniel Chalobah
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Chalobah made his England debut in mid-October but his club career hasn’t gone as well. The 23-year-old has made only three league appearances for Watford this season, amassing 99 minutes of football.
He struggled with injuries at the start of the campaign, was later an unused substitute and is only now starting to be picked by Javi Gracia. Chalobah was left on the bench against Liverpool at the weekend, however, so he has work to do to get himself in the starting lineup.
Honourable mentions
Jermain Defoe has been handed just 22 minutes of Premier League football for Bournemouth this season. He was recalled to the England squad in 2017, four years after making his last appearance, and was handed two more caps.
Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana have both played 133 minutes of league football for Liverpool. The pair have struggled with injuries for some time, and despite Sturridge and Lallana being regulars at Euro 2016, they’ve made only one appearance for England between them since 2017.