Charlie Austin has admitted he will be leaving the England squad’s Mason Mount for this summer’s European Championship to welcome midfielder rivals Phil Foden, James Maddison and Jack Grealish.
The West Brom forward, currently on loan at QPR, was asked by talkSPORT Breakfast host Laura Woods which three of the aforementioned four he would choose if he were England coach – and chose to leave out the Chelsea-shaped midfielder.
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Mason Mount is an integral part of the Chelsea squad
@talkSPORT
But Charlie Austin did not sign him in his Euro 2020 selection
“That’s a tough question… I saw James Maddison play against Fulham last week and he was the best person on the country mile field,” said the 31-year-old.
“For 45 minutes he executed them in shreds with two assists – I thought he was first class.
“I think I’m trying to get three of the four in: Maddison, Grealish and Foden. I leave Mount outside.
Clearly taken aback by Mount’s omission, Laura asked, “Why are you leaving Mount out?”
Austin replied: “You realize how important Maddison is to Leicester, how important Grealish is to Aston Villa.
“It’s a tough decision, and I think there’s going to be a situation – not with the No.10s – I think you almost have to sacrifice a No.9 position.
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Austin believes former Burnley and Southampton teammate Danny Ings should be part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad
“I think we’re going to take three # 9s to create space for a # 10, so what do you rank [Marcus] Rashford like? I don’t think you’re going to take him as No.9, you’re going to take him as a winger.
“You will take [Harry] Kane obviously, [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin too – which leaves some space. I think I take Danny Ings above the others so it creates another space for # 10, but I’m going for Grealish, Foden, and Maddison.
“I think to help England move forward we have to choose the fit players. The best players have to play.
“We’re going to play with a No 9 and Kane can almost drop that deep, but I don’t think we’re going to need four center forwards.
Foden vs Maddison vs Grealish vs Mount
Goals in all competitions
Foden: 10
Maddison: 9
Grealish: 7
Frame: 4
Hits (Premier League)
Maddison: 47
Grealish: 46
Frame: 43
Foden: 28
Help in all competitions
Grealish: 10
Maddison: 7
Frame: 5
Foden: 5
Creation of Big Chances (Premier League)
Grealish: 14
Frame: 6
Foden: 4
Maddison: 3
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