Jesse Lingard's stellar West Ham form has not been translated into a spot in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2020 squad for this summer's tournament.
The 28-year-old had forced his way back into international contention during his superb 16-game loan spell with the Hammers but was cut from the preliminary 33-man group ahead of the European Championships.
Lingard's Hammers form saw the attacking-midfielder recalled to Southgate's set-up for the March and April FIFA World Cup qualifiers, following a 20-month absence from the international fold.
At the time, Southgate referred to Lingard's recall as lucky due to injuries but the manager has expressed his admiration for the pressure the Hammer has put him under to be in contention for the tournament squad.
"Jesse has done incredibly well to get back in the race, really," Southgate said. "Going back to January, he was a million miles from being selectable for an England squad.
"I said in March he'd had a fabulous few weeks but you'd have to say he was a little fortunate because we were without four wide players at that time. He had a good spell with West Ham, and he's been a player that has played so well for us with England.
"We have total trust in the way he plays, he's reliable, he's a great member of the group. He will play tomorrow [Wednesday] because we've got Sancho ill, and we've obviously got a lot of players not available, and for the balance of the team he'll start.
"So he deserves that opportunity to go and show me that I'm wrong, straight away. But also, the lads that are with us, they're the stand-by players, we've got to keep them match ready as well in case they come back into that squad."
Lingard, along with the other five fit players to have missed out on the final squad - Aaron Ramsdale, Ben Godfrey, Ben White, James Ward-Prowse and Ollie Watkins - were all given the option to return home after receiving the disappointing news but none have chosen to do so.
The six will remain on England's standby list in case injury befalls any of the final squad before the start of the tournament and is testament to their professionalism and dedication to the international cause.
"Their commitment to stay with the group, their respect for their team-mates to want to be here, shows what playing for England means for this group of players," said Southgate.
"I think it's important the public know that because sometimes people dismiss the importance of England caps, what it means to players. This group are incredible in that regard. I think it speaks massively to their character and personality."
Lingard may have missed out on the final squad but his West Ham teammate Declan Rice was included in the final-26 and will don the number four shirt for the tournament.
Rice's selection came in the middle of a busy 24-hour period for the 22-year-old with the midfielder not only making the Three Lions squad but also receiving two award nominations. Rice is on the shortlist for both the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year and the EA Sports Premier League Young Player of the Season awards.
The awards season has recognised the Hammers superb Premier League campaign with David Moyes nominated for Premier League Manager of the Year and Tomas Soucek up for the Premier League Payer of the Year gong.
