England manager Gareth Southgate says he is "astonished" by accusations that he is "anti-Trent", after including Trent Alexander-Arnold in his World Cup squad.
Speculation had been rife that the Liverpool right-back would be left out of the Three Lions' final 26-man group altogether after he was left out of the match-day squad for a Nations League match against Germany on September 26.
But an injury sustained by Chelsea full-back Reece James and doubts over the fitness of Kyle Walker at Manchester City ensured that Alexander-Arnold's place on the plane to Qatar was no longer in question.
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With Newcastle United's in-from Kieran Trippier also vying for a right-back berth, it is currently unclear what role Liverpool's 24-year-old assist king will play in the tournament, but it is a distraction that Southgate concedes he could well do without.
A report from the Telegraph's Jason Burt says that the scrutiny under which Alexander-Arnold is being placed is not helping him in the same way that it is hampering his international teammate Harry Maguire.
Southgate is said to be astonished by accusations that he is “anti-Trent” or “anti-attacking full-backs” and has reminded the national media that he picked the Liverpool-born-and-bred star for his World Cup squad when he was still a teenager.
The England manager has also raised a point around his options at right-back in the international set-up. Whereas Liverpool's number 66 is virtually an automatic selection for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool starting XI, Southgate has a host of top-class right-backs at his disposal, with Trippier, James and Walker all competing for the same position in the England team.
The Telegraph reports that Southgate has done his upmost not to be dragged into the 'noise' surrounding the selections of both Alexander-Arnold and Maguire, but claims that the continued obsession with the topic could have a detrimental effect on England's chances of a successful World Cup.
Alexander-Arnold made his senior England debut on June 7, 2018 in a 2-0 win against Costa Rica. He has since gone on to earn 17 England caps, scoring one goal.
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