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Gary Lineker asks ‘Andros Townsend to make England Euros squad?’

8 years ago
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Gary Lineker has raised the question, will Andros Townsend be the one to make a late run and be named in Roy Hodgson’s Euros squad this summer?

The Newcastle winger scoring a glorious free-kick to give United all three points against Crystal Palace, just his latest stunning strike.

Considering he is playing for a struggling team and has had a massive weight of expectation in the Newcastle team, due to the lack of creativity in the rest of the side, the former Spurs winger has been outstanding.

Andros Townsend has started 10 games (plus one as sub) for Newcastle, scoring four goals and also notching two assists.

In 909 minutes on the pitch, Townsend has scored or made a goal on average every 151 minutes for Newcastle, plus all four goals have been brilliant strikes.

In a discussion on Match of The Day, Gary Lineker and Danny Murphy discussed the impact Andros Townsend has made at St James Park.

Murphy pointed out that in his disjointed career at Spurs the winger only scored three goals in some 50 appearances, the fact he is now a first choice regular has at last given him the right platform.

Having been a regular pick for Roy Hodgson in the past despite not being a Spurs first choice, means it would be very remiss of Hodgson not to at least have a close look at Andros Townsend in Newcastle colours.

Danny Murphy on Saturday night (Match of The Day):

“Andros Townsend has been really good for Newcastle since he has gone there.

“He has four goals in 11 games, I think he only managed three in 50 for Tottenham – so it is some contrast.

“It (Townsend’s goal v Palace) is definitely worth another look because it was super technique, he hits it with great pace and precision.”

Gary Lineker:

“I know we tend to say it at this point, somebody has a good game and ‘can he sneak into the Euros squad for the Euros’ but he has been a favourite of Roy’s in the past?”

Danny Murphy:

“He has had some really good games for Roy in an England shirt and I think if you are looking at the likes of Walcott and Sterling, I think there is an argument for Townsend in terms of the fact he is playing every week and is a goal threat.

“He is certainly playing better than the other two at the moment.”

Back in January after signing for Newcastle, it was predictable that Andros Townsend would be asked about his chances of making the England squad this summer.

The winger said all the right things about his only focus being about Newcastle and it is Roy Hodgson who has given Townsend all 10 of his England caps, scoring three goals.

Despite not playing a full 90 minutes in the Premier League for close on two years for Spurs, as recently as October the Newcastle winger appeared for England as a substitute against Lithuania in a qualifier for the Euros, whilst his last start for England was in the 3-2 Euro qualifier win v Slovakia.

Andros Townsend asked about his England hopes in January when signing for Newcastle United:

“Roy Hodgson has always had faith in my ability, included me in squads – every time he put me on the pitch I repaid that faith.

“I need to now focus solely on Newcastle, helping to get out of the relegation zone and to survival – if I can do that and score a few goals along the way, hopefully the England stuff will come off the back of it.

“The last time I played nine or 10 Premier League games in a row, I was playing for Spurs and playing for England…kind of setting the world alight, so I can’t wait to get a run of games and consistency going and hopefully get back to that level I was at a few years ago.”

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