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Ross Barkley was part of Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad for the disastrous Euro 2016 campaign but he didn’t play a single minute in France and he was not selected by Sam Allardyce for his sole game in charge of the Three Lions.

A hamstring injury kept the former Everton star out of contention for the majority of the 2017/18 season and he then joined Chelsea in January but has struggled for games after picking up another problem last month,

England boss Gareth Southgate confirmed he would not be part of England’s travelling World Cup party due to his fitness issues.

“I think he’s just not been fit,” Southgate said. “He went to Chelsea on the back of a long-term hamstring injury, quite a serious one, and has had only had a couple of matches really.

“He’s not available for selection now anyway, so he’s unfortunate in the way that has played out in this year in particular.

“But if he can get back playing and playing regularly I’m sure, post-summer, we will look again.

“It’s going to be difficult for him I think to get the number of games he needs now for the World Cup. But we know he’s a talented player.”