James Ward-Prowse doing everything he can to make England World Cup squad

James Ward-Prowse is determined to make England’s World Cup squad and avoid watching another tournament from the sofa.

Named in every Three Lions squad he was available for last season, the in-form 27-year-old saw hopes of playing in the run to the Euro 2020 final scotched after being cut from the provisional squad.

Ward-Prowse had already experienced similar heartache having missed out on England’s 2019 Nations League finals after training with Gareth Southgate’s men in the build-up, but that disappointment could not compare with the summer.

Little wonder the Southampton captain is doing everything he can to make it third time lucky as the nine-cap midfielder attempts to force his way into selection for the winter World Cup.

“Having had the disappointment from the summer of not quite making the Euros squad, there’s definitely that incentive for me to make sure that I don’t miss out on another major tournament,” Ward-Prowse told the PA news agency.

“There’s such huge competition for places within the squad, which is a great thing. But, equally, it’s frustrating, because there are so many players and so many more hurdles to get through.

“But it’s up to me to make sure that I give myself the opportunity to make that squad.”

Asked if that disappointment fuels him, the set-piece specialist said: “Yeah, it does. Naturally I was disappointed but I knew I’d come off the back of a really successful season and I’d given myself every opportunity to be in that squad.

“It wasn’t meant to be but I wanted to make sure that I could help and prepare the team as best as I could.

“To be at home was strange in many ways, to be watching them do so well. On one hand you want to be there but equally your buzzing for them to be doing so well.