Matt Dickinson has been speaking on the latest edition of The Times’ The Game Football podcast about the action from the Premier League last weekend.
One of the games that he talked about was Aston Villa’s 3-0 win over Arsenal, which led to a conversation on Ross Barkley, where the reporter revealed that he would like to see Barkley back in the England squad.
Barkley is on a season-long loan with Aston Villa and has had a brilliant start to the season, with two goals and one assist from five Premier League games with Villa and an average rating of 7.62/10 (as per WhoScored).
Perhaps it is this form that led Dickinson to praise Barkley and call for his inclusion in the England squad.
He said: “The Barkley thing is fantastic to see, isn’t it?
“With an England hat on, personally, I think England should be looking to set up 4-3-3 – and in that system, Ross Barkley, on this form, would be fantastic as one of the number eights bombing forward, playing off the strikers.
“He’s just got a real panache back to his game.”
Do you think Barkley should be in the England squad?
Yes, he has had a superb start to the season
No, he needs to show more consistency
TIF Thoughts on Barkley and Dickinson’s view on him…
Barkley has 33 England caps and has scored six goals for his country, but he is looking to get in the squad ahead of the European Championships and that was why he joined Villa, according to boss Dean Smith.
His form for Villa at the start of the season has been stunning, and you would think that Gareth Southgate could be looking to get him back in the England side if he can keep up this form.
Certainly, it is clear that Dickinson is a big fan of the 26-year-old, and he would like to see him back in the England squad and used in the starting XI.
So, it will be interesting to see if Barkley can continue this form and if he does receive an England call-up soon.