Marc Albrighton doesn’t think about England call-up anymore

Marc Albrighton has stopped thinking about an England call-up anymore despite receiving a letter from England manager Gareth Southgate, who only had good words to say about him.

The Three Lions’ boss initially received a letter from a young girl who asked him to pick the Leicester City midfielder. Southgate, in a really kind gesture, then responded to the girl as well as Marc Albrighton, praising the 28-year old.

The letter, however, has done little to change the former Aston Villa player’s opinion as far as his England hopes go, which he has now given up on.

At 28, he has stopped thinking about the international stage despite being among the top English performers for the last three seasons.

"“No, I don’t think about it now,” he said.“There was a time when I did look at it and think maybe I could work towards getting a call-up, but now with the World Cup coming up it is a bit too late.“I think once the World Cup is out of the way they are preparing for two years’ time and obviously they will be picking a lot younger players.“It is something that is past now and it allows me to focus on my club football.“I have never really had any inkling I was being considered. I am not sure why.“I received a letter a few months ago from a young girl who had written to Gareth Southgate asking him to pick me. To be fair to Gareth, he did write back and I received both of those letters through the post.“The letter said what a fantastic player I was and he wished me well for the future, but he didn’t disclose too much.“It was nice to read but in terms of a call-up it has gone now.”"

Marc Albrighton has every right to feel hard done by the England managers of the past and present. The Leicester City man has been right up there with anyone who is currently playing for England and has even outperformed some of the names in the current squad.

To be overlooked again, therefore, is really hard to digest, and it is totally understandable when he says that he is not concerned about an England call-up anymore. Maybe, there is still scope for him to make it to Russia for the FIFA World Cup 2018 if he does keep on performing at this level for Leicester City, and someone else in Gareth Southgate’s squad doesn’t.

Next: Leicester City want European Football, says Ben Chilwell

Then again, injuries never come with a prior notice either. There’s still a fair bit of football to be played.