When a player like Bowen knocks on Southgate’s door and says: “Boss can you give me some feedback as why I haven’t made the starting line up or squad” what possible answer can the England manager give to the player and I am not talking just Bowen.
He can’t say: “Well you need to be playing at the top level young man. Or you need to be playing regularly young man. Or you need to be playing consistently well for your club and scoring goals because you have managed eight this season.
So in my mind he can only say: ” Sorry young man you’re not in the FA old boys club and your face doesn’t fit. Unfortunately it’s nothing to do with football which explains why we are still waiting to win a major tournament.”