Harry Maguire won't be representing England at this summer's World Cup, but he'll still be part of the action in a rather different way.
The Manchester United defender was left stunned after Thomas Tuchel omitted him from the 26-man squad, with Dan Burn, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah getting the nod instead.
It's a decision that left Maguire and his family outraged.
But the 33-year-old has landed a gig on Gary Lineker's 'The Rest is Football' podcast, which features alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
Harry Maguire will appear on Gary Lineker's podcast over the World Cup
|REUTERS
The show is even getting the Netflix treatment following a lucrative deal signed last year.
Lineker has revealed that the podcast arrangement was actually sorted out ages ago, back when Maguire was barely getting a look-in at Old Trafford.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the former England striker explained: "Funnily enough, we spoke to Harry quite some time ago when he was not playing at all.
"He was really out of the picture completely. And it was funny at the time, because we did the [podcast] deal with him months and months ago, when he was going through that sticky spell at United."
At that point, an England call-up seemed a distant dream for the defender.
Gary Lineker has secured a lucrative deal with Netflix following his departure from the BBC | GETTY Maguire actually insisted on having a get-out clause written into his contract, just in case he earned a spot in Tuchel's World Cup squad.
Lineker recalled: "And he did ask for a clause: 'Should I make the England squad...'"
The former striker admitted he was sceptical at the time, given how far Maguire had fallen down the pecking order.
"I thought to myself: 'You really don't need that clause. If you're picked, you're going to be fine with it. Don't worry about it,'" Lineker said.
As it turned out, that clause was never needed.
Lineker made it clear he feels Maguire has been hard done by with this selection.
Harry Maguire revealed he was "shocked and gutted" not to make the England squad | GETTY"I think he's been really unlucky, actually, not to make the squad. I'm actually genuinely disappointed for him, given his experience as well. He's never let England down," he said.
The former striker reckons Newcastle's Dan Burn was lucky to be picked ahead of the United man.
Every team to have won the World Cup | GETTY/GB NEWS"I thought Dan Burn was probably fortunate to get the nod ahead of him. But it's one man's decision - Thomas Tuchel has done it and we've asked for someone to make big calls," Lineker added.
"Ultimately he'll be judged by what happens on the field."