1 week Ago By Natasha Everitt
Ben White is ready to play for England again when Thomas Tuchel officially takes over, talkSPORT understands. The Arsenal defender hasn't been with a Three Lions camp since the 2022 World Cup when he left the competition for personal reasons. But after what will then be a near three-year hiatus, White could return to the national team.
talkSPORT's Adrian Durham revealed on air on Wednesday: "I've heard from a very good source that Arsenal's Ben White will be making himself available for selection in March. "That will be when England play for the first time under Thomas Tuchel. "I'm fascinated to see if Tuchel thinks 'yes, I'll have him straight back in, he's a top four player, he's playing regularly for Arsenal, so he gets straight back in'.
"Or, whether he says to himself 'this is somebody who didn't care about England, so no I'm not going to have him back in'." Reports suggested White left Qatar 2022 due to a disagreement with former assistant coach Steve Holland under Gareth Southgate. White then made himself unavailable for selection for Euro 2024.
His last England appearance came against the Ivory Coast in an international friendly in March 2022. The Three Lions won 3-0, with White playing 45 minutes. Reacting to the news of a potential England return for White, former Chelsea star and Sports Bar co-host Jason Cundy said: "I'd welcome him back with open arms.
"I do not have a problem with Ben. We do not know the reasons why he didn't want to be part of England. We probably never will find out.
" Tuchel takes over as England manager on January 1, and the German has been tasked with guiding the Three Lions to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and lead them through the tournament. Meanwhile, interim boss Lee Carsley will continue to take charge of England as they face Greece and the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League this week, live on talkSPORT . But while Cundy is happy for White to return to international duty to help England in the Tuchel era, Jamie O'Hara isn't so sure.
Cundy's co-host said: "I'm sorry, I'm not having that. When the chips are down, is he going to fight for his country?" Cundy replied: "Well he fights for Arsenal." "Yeah, alright, but he's at Arsenal," O'Hara responded.
"He plays for them every week. He didn't want to play for England, he didn't want to be involved in it. "Lee Carsley took over, interim manager, didn't want to know.
All of a sudden, Thomas Tuchel gets the job, and Ben White wants to make himself available. "I'm sorry, I'm not having that. You play for your country when you're selected, or if you say no, ok no problem, I've got no issue-" Cundy then interrupted to ask if saying no once meant White should be excluded forever.
"Well, yes," O'Hara said. "You can't pick and choose when you want to play for your country. "So he only wants to be in the squad when he wants to play? I'm sorry.
Ben White, listen great player, brilliant player. "Do what you want, that's fine. You don't want to represent your country? You've had a fall out, whatever, you don't fancy turning up, no problem.
"You can't then turn around and expect people to pick you after you turned down your country." White currently has four England caps to his name. The 27-year-old made 12 appearances for Arsenal this season in all competitions, missing four games due to a knee injury.
It's widely reported he will have surgery on the minor knee injury, meaning he's set for a spell on the sidelines..
