England disappointment for Drinkwater but certainly not the end

It’s been a stand-out year for Danny Drinkwater, the best in his still developing career. Starting almost every single match in Leicester’s title winning season saw the midfielder catch the attention of pundits and fans alike with his performances. It also helped the former Manchester United product win his first, deserved, England cap. With three to his name now, it was disappointing but almost inevitable that he’d likely be one of the players who didn’t make the final Euro 2016 squad. At just twenty-six years old though, it’s unlikely that this will be the end of his England career.

As would any sensible, professional player with a hope of getting the nod in the future, Drinkwater took Tuesday’s decision gracefully. I don’t doubt his sincerity and he’s ambitious enough to know that he can earn more caps if he keeps playing the way we saw this season. His own team-mate, Jamie Vardy, is proof that age and the rise to the top won’t stand in your way if you’re good enough. I doubt we’ve seen the last of him in the England set-up either. For now, he can enjoy a summer break and recharge his batteries. Then join the rest of us in cheering on our side at the Euros.

Is there a case for Drinkwater to have made the cut? I’d argue definitely so. Even with some Leicester bias in there, it’s difficult to swallow the decision without questioning it a little. Drinkwater was up there with the best midfielders in the Premier League this season and in terms of English players, was arguably the best. He maintained an impressive, consistent level of performance in virtually every single one of his thirty-five appearances, rarely looking off form. He had one of the best partners of course, in N’Golo Kante. The two struck up a partnership that was at the core of Leicester’s team, and the spirit of the team. Rarely did either of them let somebody get by them, certainly not without a fight anyway, and they knew their roles inside out, their partnership even better perhaps.

There’s an argument to be made for his fitness and injury free season as well. I’ve discussed it before but Leicester’s sports science team did a phenomenal job to help ensure injuries were at a minimum for the Foxes, something worth more than money in a small squad. While he may not have the international experience, or time in incredibly high-pressured European games, he’s less risky from a fitness point of view. Jack Wilshere’s fitness has raised questions for a few seasons now and even Jordan Henderson’s suffered with injuries this season. Drinkwater missed two games, one with a minor strain and one due to suspension. He’s not a concern in that department, something that you could say is welcome when you only have limited spots.

His partnership with Vardy was equally key in Leicester’s season and success. So many time we witnessed Drinkwater get hold of the ball, look toward the striker and deliver a key pass into the final third for Vardy to run onto or turn a defender. It led to goals on five occasions (the only assists Drinkwater bagged actually) and probably should have led to more. The England set-up isn’t immune to partnerships either, several key Tottenham partnerships will be relied upon in the current squad and it’s a group of players who at the core know each other very well. This could have been an asset to the side, particularly to help ease Vardy into the mix and provide him more support.

The case against Drinkwater? Some of it is exactly what I’ve just mentioned. Drinkwater is still building relationship with the vast majority of the England team, having not trained with or played with them as often. Roy Hodgson is a seasoned manager at international level now as well. He deserves an element of trust and while club loyalties have always rung more true for more, I’ll still support England just as much in this year’s tournament. Drinkwater is inexperienced at this level internationally and Hodgson already has a few players like that in his squad. Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson both have that experience and can be a steady head for the younger, less experienced players. They know the pressure that follows the Three Lions whenever a tournament is on the horizon and what it takes to deal with that.

He may have been one of the strongest contender for best English midfielder this season, but admittedly it was his first at Premier League level. He wasn’t poor last season, but didn’t feature as much and it’s easy to be slightly overshadowed when you have Esteban Cambiasso as your partner. He had another stand-out year when Leicester sealed the Championship title and promotion, but this didn’t catch so many eyes either due to it not being at the top level. Perhaps to truly win over Hodgson he needs to show more consistency and keep up his standards again for Leicester in the coming season, particularly with the Foxes venturing into the Champions League for the first time. It’ll be a first for Drinkwater and the majority of his team-mates too, but what better way to impress and cement a spot than by keeping up with the world class opponents he’ll have to deal with.

While Foxes fans now have two less club players to watch out for, what with Andrej Kramaric being sold to Hoffenheim in the last week as well, it still promises to be an exciting tournament even outside of England hopes. There are still more Leicester players set to feature than we’re used to in a tournament and likely we’ll have our eye on a few more who will be in attendance to boost the squad. Vardy’s spot in the England squad never seemed in question, it’s just how much will he play and where, what with Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford beginning to look like the favoured strikers. Hoping to face England, Andy King made the cut for Wales and Christian Fuchs will sport the captain’s armband for Austria. N’Golo Kante was a late addition to an already talent packed French squad hoping to win the trophy on their own turf and I certainly wouldn’t relish England having to face him, Dmitri Payet and co! Having had a couple of weeks to fully get to grips with everything from the Premier League season, I can’t wait to get stuck into the Euros now.