Gary Lineker floats Trent Alexander-Arnold theories after England omission

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have discussed Trent Alexander-Arnold's exclusion from the England squad, with theories ranging from Thomas Tuchel sending a message to Real Madrid disciplinary issues

Gary Lineker has offered his opinion(Image: Getty Images)

Gary Lineker reckons England's omission of Trent Alexander-Arnold hints that Thomas Tuchel isn't keen on the player.

The former Three Lions skipper also suggested the snub might be designed to send a statement, similar to the approach taken with Jude Bellingham back in October. Lineker also referenced reports claiming Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa benched Alexander-Arnold for the Atletico Madrid clash following the defender's late arrival at training toward the end of last week.

The right-back began Sunday's derby on the substitutes' bench. Nevertheless, he came on and set up Vinicius Junior's match-winning goal. Arbeloa declined to specify any particular reasoning behind dropping Alexander-Arnold.

Lineker said on The Rest is Football: "There were rumors, I think in Marca, the newspaper there ran it that he was late for one of the training sessions toward the end of this week, and that's why he didn't start.

"Now, I don't know if that's true, but that's what Marca says.

"But for me, looking at the squad and the fact that he's not put him in this squad when he's obviously been playing a bit now in Real Madrid, it suggests to me that Tuchel's not having him.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of Thomas Tuchel's England squad(Image: Getty Images)

"If he suddenly plays brilliantly and they go on and win the Champions League and stuff, he'll probably be forced to put him in.

"But what I will say, I think without Trent it lessens your chances slightly, very slightly, like half a percent, whatever.

"If you're 15 minutes to go and you're playing in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, or the semifinals, and you're one-nil down, and he was on the bench, and you could put on that delivery and that passing ability, something completely different, I can't see why you wouldn't want that asset even if you don't see him as a starter because you're worried about him defensively.

"That would be my point, and I know I'm a huge Trent fan; he's given me a lot of joy watching him play, and his passing and his crossing over the years."

Alan Shearer chimed in with another perspective: "Jude Bellingham and Trent are a pretty powerful couple. Would there be a point in Tuchel's mind where he thinks that if those two together are not going to play, either of them or one of them or one of the other, then they have an influence on the squad?"

Lineker dismissed the notion, responding: "I think that would be bizarre. What I will say, what he might be thinking, is that he left Bellingham out, didn't he, in the previous squad, maybe to send a message, maybe he's leaving Trent out just to send another message.

"But we're getting quite close to the competition now. I don't know, I don't know whether they're problematic people to have in your side; what I do know is that they're two unbelievably talented and brilliant footballers that have delivered over recent seasons.

"It's impossible for us to know what the connection is or lack of connection between Tuchel and those players, what he thinks. There's only one man who decides; he picks the squad, it's up to him."