Jermaine Jenas defends Ben White over his decision to snub an England call up

Jermaine Jenas has backed Ben White over his England snub, insisting the Arsenal defender ‘has to decide what’s best for his career and no one else’.

England boss Gareth Southgate named his Three Lions squad this week ahead of friendlies against Brazil and Belgium but revealed that White had asked not to be considered.

It came after White left the England camp midway through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to ‘personal reasons’, with later reports he had a bust-up with Southgate’s assistant manager Steve Holland.

White - who has been in terrific form for league leaders Arsenal this season - has not been involved for England since and Southgate said he was unaware why the player had declined the call-up.

But former England international Jenas came to White’s defence, claiming that although it was a ‘strange’ situation, it was ultimately the Arsenal man’s call alone, stressing there could be any number of reasons for his decision.

‘It is strange', Jenas told Mail Sport in Brazil ahead of the São Paulo E-Prix, which he will host for TNT’s coverage of the Formula E race.

‘I think not everybody's patriotic, and I think we have to accept that. I think Ben has his own reasons why he feels it's best for him to not be selected for England. For all we know, him not being selected with England has such a positive impact on his club career, and he wants to focus on that.

‘Not everybody's the same in football. We like to kind of pigeonhole players like, “you've got to fight for your country”. It might be a footballing reason. It might be like, “what's the point in me going if I'm not going to play?”'

Jenas added that White’s absence opened the door to other young players like Jarrad Branthwaite as he hailed him for ‘one of his best years as a footballer’ at the Emirates.

‘It creates an opportunity for somebody else,’ Jenas said. ‘Braithwaite's come into the fold. He's had a good season at Everton in a tough situation. He's got the opportunity and I think that's the way to look at it.

‘I think Ben White's having one of his best years as a footballer. I understand why Gareth did what he did because he needed give reasoning as to why he's not picked him because it's quite obvious that he's been brilliant lately.

‘I hope that there's no negative fallback for Ben because he's been brilliant for Arsenal and I think he's got to decide what's best for his career, nobody else.’

Another player the former Tottenham star defended was Jordan Henderson following criticism of his inclusion in the squad.

The Ajax midfielder, 33, left Liverpool last summer to join Saudi club Al-Ettifaq and many believed his England days were numbered after joining a less competitive division - before he cut short his stay and joined the Dutch side in January.

And despite Henderson’s solid past displays for the Three Lions, fans vented on social media on Thursday that Southgate had kept faith with the veteran instead of picking in-form stars like Man United star Kobbie Mainoo or Ross Barkley.

Jenas highlighted Henderson’s leadership qualities and influence on the dressing room - even if he didn’t make the starting XI.