When Gareth Southgate revealed in March last year that Ben White had made himself unavailable for England selection, most people were perplexed.
How could one of the nation’s most dependable defenders turn down such an honour?
White had not featured for his country since leaving England’s World Cup squad in Qatar in November 2022 for ‘personal reasons’ — a high-profile exit said to be influenced by a disagreement with Southgate's assistant Steve Holland.
Now, nearly 18 months on from White's snubbing of England, the dynamic has flipped. The right back, once a guaranteed starter at Arsenal, has become a peripheral figure, fighting to regain form and fitness after knee surgery and watching others take his place for both club and country.