It’s been an incident-packed weekend on the pitch, but off it, there has been an interesting occurrence as well.
Gareth Southgate named his first senior England squad for the upcoming international break, where England will take on Malta and Slovenia in the next stage of their World Cup qualification campaign.
And there was one name fans weren’t expecting to see.
Glen Johnson has made the England Squad...
— Matt Craig (@MattHDGamer) October 2, 2016
Glen Johnson is in Southgate's first England squad. pic.twitter.com/7Y7LwQBu1W
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) October 2, 2016
The Stoke right-back’s last game for his country was quite a while ago.
Glen Johnson's last England appearance was against Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) October 2, 2016
And the former Liverpool defender has had injury problems of late.
32 year old Glen Johnson only returned to Stoke's first team a fortnight ago after 7 months out with injury. Must have done enough.
— Simon Gleave (@SimonGleave) October 2, 2016
While people were quick to point out that Johnson’s inclusion in the squad was due to Nathaniel Clyne’s absence…
Kane, Butland, Drinkwater, Lallana, Clyne and Shaw all unavailable through injury for Southgate. #eng
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) October 2, 2016
…Were there not other, more suitable candidates?
OK Panic over - Clyne injured. But really, Southgate has seen all the best of English youth and said Glen Johnson is the best RB?
— Ian Davis (@Iananities) October 2, 2016
Recall for Glen Johnson, why not call up youth in Bournemouth's Adam Smith, who was great yesterday and why no @t_deeney ?
— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) October 2, 2016
Jermaine Defoe when he notices Jesse Lingard and Glen Johnson have been called up but he still hasn't... pic.twitter.com/uu07Ub1QBn
— From The Stands (@FromTStands) October 2, 2016
Some fans refused to believe it.
15 minutes on and I'm still convinced there must be another Glen Johnson who's eligible for England
— Tom Victor (@tomvictor) October 2, 2016
While others have had enough of this England team.
Glen Johnson in the England squad. We don't need to appoint a new boss. Just retire the national side for a decade and review it again then.
— Ell Bretland (@EllBretland) October 2, 2016
We’ll see you all in 2026, then?
