Wayne Rooney has admitted he finds it 'mind-boggling' that Thomas Tuchel continues to overlook Trent Alexander-Arnold as England's World Cup campaign creeps closer.
The right-back looks unlikely to make the squad for this summer's showpiece event, having featured just once under Tuchel so far.
During the last international break in March, Tuchel opted to snub Alexander-Arnold with Ben White brought back into the international fold instead.
White had previously been absent from England squads ever since walking out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Alexander-Arnold demonstrated his quality consistently during his time at Liverpool, though has struggled since joining Real Madrid in the summer.
Yet Rooney finds it baffling that the 27-year-old continues to be overlooked, regardless of his struggles in Spain.
"No disrespect to Ben White, I think he’s a really good player, but for him to be in the squad and play ahead of Trent, I find it mind-boggling," Rooney, speaking on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show, said.
Wayne Rooney has admitted he finds it 'mind-boggling' that Thomas Tuchel continues to overlook Trent Alexander-Arnold as England's World Cup campaign creeps closer
|PA
In addition to White, Jarrell Quansah, White, Reece James, Tino Livramento and Djed Spence are all ahead of Alexander-Arnold in the pecking order.
Rooney believes James should start when England's campaign kicks off against Croatia on June 17.
"We don’t need our full-backs to be the most attacking, we need them to defend," he explained.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has made just one appearance for England since Thomas Tuchel took charge | PALATEST SPORTS NEWS:
England's record in their last five major tournaments | GB NEWSRooney added that his defence would contain Harry Maguire, Marc Guehi and Luke Shaw, despite the Manchester United left-back looking set to miss out.
"We’ve got attacking ability at the top end of the pitch," he added.
"We don’t need them to be bombing forward, keep the balance and let the attacking players win you the games.
"In terms of the lads who are in there, you wouldn’t say they were the best defensively anyway.'
Rooney isn't the only former England star shocked by the way Tuchel has treated Alexander-Arnold.
Gary Lineker, speaking recently, suggested that Tuchel had 'personal' issues with the defender.
Ben White is currently ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold in Thomas Tuchel's pecking order
| GETTY"You know I'm obviously a big admirer of Trent," Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast.
"I think there's something personal because football-wise there's no argument. I can't see how he can not be in that squad because he has to improve your chances, even if it's from the bench.
"So I suspect there's something that Tuchel does not like about Trent Alexander-Arnold.
"I'm just guessing in terms of what it might be, whether it's his attitude, whether it's he's not brilliant defensively. There has to be something in that because it makes absolutely no sense.
"As you saw in these kinds of games, you need someone with a bit of magic to unlock things, and he will provide you that.
"So it doesn't make sense to me. I don't know whether it's his attitude or whatever it is, I don't know."