England

Kieron Dyer: 'England squad picked on reputation, not form'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 02 October 2016

Former England midfielder Kieron Dyer believes that, when it comes to major tournaments, the Three Lions squad is picked on reputation and not merit.

Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson only made England's Euro 2016 squad because of their reputation, according to retired footballer Kieron Dyer.

The Arsenal loanee and the Liverpool captain saw their respective 2015-16 campaigns disrupted by injury, but were picked by Roy Hodgson ahead of Leicester City's Danny Drinkwater and West Ham's Mark Noble.

Dyer, who was handed his England debut in 1999 by Kevin Keegan and went on to make 33 appearances for his country, believes that the Three Lions boss needs to be brave enough to pick players on merit and not their name.

"I think the problem with England, even when I was playing and still today, is it's picked on reputation and not on form and it's got to be a brave manager who breaks that mould," Dyer told Sky Sports News.

"You look at [Danny] Drinkwater and [Mark] Noble and everyone was saying they were the most in-form midfielders at the end of last season but didn't make the [Euro 2016] squad.

"Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson, who didn't play any football, made the squad because it is picked on reputation. It is a tough one for a manager because if you are a Wilshere or a Henderson playing to the best of your ability they're probably better than Drinkwater or Noble."

Dyer began his career at Ipswich Town and went on to play for Newcastle United, West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough.