England’s Dirty Dozen - the 12 players called up by Southgate yet to receive an international cap

Graeme Bailey
28 March 2022

First the Three Lions call-up, then the cap. Or so it is supposed to go. However, these 12 players are still waiting for a start under Gareth Southgate that may not come.

During his six-year tenure Gareth Southgate 2016 has called up 97 players to his England squads.

Marc Guehi and Kyle Walker-Peters were the latest, making their debuts against Switzerland, but of the previous 95, 12 were never used.

Planet Sport takes a look at the 'Dirty Dozen' and what happened with them. Could they still receive caps under Southgate?

Fraser Forster (Called up while at Southampton)

The former Celtic and Newcastle goalkeeper was already capped when Southgate took charge.

Under Southgate, Forster was an unused substitute seven times before receiving his last call-up in 2017 and so never actually saw action with the current regime.

Could Forster play for Southgate again? Unlikely. He is still in the Premier League with Southampton but is understudy to Alex McCarthy, who himself has designs on an England call-up.

Marcus Bettinelli (Fulham)

A surprise call-up in 2018. Bettinelli never saw action for the Three Lions despite being around for four games.

The 29-year-old is now with Chelsea, but his road back to the international scene looks a long one as he is very much the number three at Stamford Bridge.

Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough)

The nephew of Middlesbrough chairman Steve, Gibson came through the acclaimed academy at Boro and looked set to follow on from Stewart Downing in claiming a full cap.

Gibson's first call came in 2017 for a World Cup qualifier and he went uncapped on three occasions.

Is still playing Premier League football - at Norwich - but a pre-World Cup call-up looks highly unlikely.

Jack Wilshere (Arsenal/Bournemouth)

When Southgate took charge, Wilshere was a key figure for England but injuries and lack of form soon struck.

Amazingly, Wilshere would only be called for two games under Southgate, while with Bournemouth and Arsenal, but he did not play - almost unthinkable ahead of 2016.

Wilshere is now playing in the Danish Superliga with AGFand despite only being 30 it would be staggering if he battled his way back into England contention.

Michail Antonio (West Ham)

Called up by Sam Allardyce and then by Southgate, West Ham star Antonio was unable to win a cap as injuries played a major role.

Despite his form, Antonio remained largely ignored and in 2021 switched allegiance to Jamaica, confirming he would never see action for the Three Lions.

Alfie Mawson (Swansea City)

Central defender Mawson impressed in the Premier League with Swansea before their relegation and it was enough to earn a call-up to the England squad.

Southgate brought him into the party ahead of friendlies with Holland and Italy in 2018 but he would not see action.

Now with Fulham, Mawson should be back in the Premier League next season. However, his England chances look to have gone.

Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)

Kieran Gibbs only ever won 10 caps for England and he never really cemented himself under any manager.

Southgate did call him up once while he was at Arsenal but he went unused.

Now winding down his career in MLS with Inter Miami, he won't play for his country again.

Angus Gunn (Norwich City)

The third keeper in the 12 is the son of Scottish star Bryan.

Gunn qualifies for Scotland and still does as despite his call-up ahead of the 2018 World Cup he did not see action.

Still relatively young for a keeper at 26, Gunn's international future remains up in the air and he still harbours hopes of playing in the 2022 World Cup - with England.

Glen Johnson (Stoke City)

Johnson served England well but Southgate's era was just beyond him - although he was recalled in 2016 after showing good form at Stoke.

However, Johnson never played for Southgate or England again after pulling out through injury.

Johnson confirmed his retirement from football in 2019.

Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City)

Drinkwater was one of those, like Roy Hodgson, who never recovered from England's dismal Euro 2016.

Southgate did call up Drinkwater, but only once, and injury ruled him out. He was never picked again with even a huge move to Chelsea failing to work its magic.

Drinkwater is currently on loan at Championship side Reading. It's safe to say he is not in contention for an England recall.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United)

Probably the most surprising of Southgate's Dirty Dozen not to make an appearance for him. The £50million full-back had never received international honours before his move to Old Trafford in 2019.

He was called up for the World Cup qualifiers in August 2019 but has now gone more than two years without a call.

The 24-year-old still believes he can win a cap, but with a host of world-class options at right-back ahead of him, his immediate chances look slim.

Demarai Gray (Leicester City)

It is easy to forget Gray has already received a call-up. He was named by Southgate in a squad to face Switzerland in 2018 but he did not feature.

Now catching the eye at Everton following a summer switch from Bayer Leverkusen, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he was to force his way back into contention in 2022.