Rice hopes to convince Arsenal team-mate Ben White to make England U-turn

Ben White has been excelling for Arsenal this season so far but has not featured for England since the Qatar 2022 World Cup, with recent reports that the full-back has refused to be selected by the Three Lions for the March international break. 

The England full-back returned early from England's training camp in Qatar for alleged "personal reasons" although later reports suggest this was over an alleged heated exchange between the Gunners defender and England assistant Steve Holland. 

Declan Rice, who shares a dressing room with him at Arsenal, was asked about White's situation ahead of the friendly against Belgium, to which the former West Ham player replied that he would speak to him and hoped to see him back playing for his country.

"When I get back I can have a conversation with him [White] and see the ins and outs and see what he thinks. I would love him to come. I think Bukayo (Saka) would. I think Aaron Ramsdale would. I think we're all going to be on him when we get back to say… hopefully, he can change his mind but I don't know the ins and outs of that conversation, he said.

 

March 26, 2024