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The highest scorers of the Fantasy Premier League missing from the England squad

Will their presence be missed?
Will their presence be missed? Will their presence be missed?

Gareth Southgate has announced England’s 23-man World Cup squad, but if you’re a fantasy football manager you might have a few questions about the selection.

Here are the top scoring English players in the Fantasy Premier League this season who didn’t make it on the plane – will Southgate regret leaving some of them behind?

Chris Smalling, 123 points

Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United – Premier League – AMEX Stadium
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United – Premier League – AMEX Stadium (John Walton/EMPICS Sport)

Despite an unforgettable winning goal against eventual champions Manchester City and his second-highest fantasy score ever in the Premier League this season, the Manchester United defender has been overlooked.

With 11 clean sheets and nine bonus points – awarded based on a player’s performance – the 28-year-old centre back has excelled this season despite missing nine fixtures.

Ben Foster, 123 points

West Bromwich Albion v Burnley – Premier League – The Hawthorns
West Bromwich Albion v Burnley – Premier League – The Hawthorns (David Davies/PA)

With 10 clean sheets, 99 saves and 11 bonus points the West Brom goalkeeper amassed a strong score in the 37 games he played this season.

The Baggies’ relegation could have played against the 35-year-old, who has eight England caps, but the selected Jack Butland, who scored 125 points, also went down with Stoke.

Andros Townsend, 121 points

Crystal Palace v Arsenal – Premier League – Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace v Arsenal – Premier League – Selhurst Park (Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport)

The 26-year-old Crystal Palace winger notched nine assists and two goals this season, also bagging seven bonus points for his best total points score ever in Fantasy Premier League.

He was once a star for Palace manager Roy Hodgson’s England team, with spectacular strikes against Italy and Montenegro, but he spent this season in the shadow of teammate Wilfried Zaha.

Aaron Cresswell, 118 points

West Ham United v Manchester City – Premier League – London Stadium
West Ham United v Manchester City – Premier League – London Stadium (John Walton/EMPICS Sport)

Seven assists, 10 clean sheets and one goal coupled with 10 bonus points made it an impressive season for Cresswell.

He has surpassed this total points score twice before, but has been overlooked regularly and at 28 has just three England caps.

Jamaal Lascelles, 116 points

Newcastle United v Burnley – Premier League – St James’ Park
Newcastle United v Burnley – Premier League – St James’ Park (Richard Sellers/EMPICS Sport)

The Newcastle centre back recorded nine clean sheets, three goals and nine bonus points despite missing five games to injury mid-season.

At 24 he has years of top football ahead of him, but has yet to be given a senior England call up, having played at youth level.

Wayne Rooney, 113 points

Wayne Rooney File photo
Wayne Rooney File photo (Owen Humphreys/PA)

The country’s former captain has retired from international football but showed pockets of fine form for Everton, including a wonder goal from his own half to complete a hat-trick against West Ham.

Rooney, 32, scored 10 goals and made three assists, but most significantly he earned a whopping 20 bonus points for his performances despite missing several games.

Alfie Mawson, 112 points

Manchester United v Swansea City – Premier League – Old Trafford
Manchester United v Swansea City – Premier League – Old Trafford (Dave Howarth/EMPICS Sport)

The 24-year-old was one of the few Swansea players to enhance his reputation this season, with nine clean sheets, seven bonus points and two goals for the relegated club.

After playing every minute this season, Mawson’s hopes of making the England squad were ended after his club announced he had surgery for a knee problem he has been carrying.

Jay Rodriguez, 109 points

AFC Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion – Premier League – Vitality Stadium
AFC Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion – Premier League – Vitality Stadium (Mark Kerton/PA)

The West Brom forward scored an impressive 11 bonus points this season, also bagging seven goals and an assist.

It’s the 28-year-old’s second most successful season in the Fantasy Premier League, after his score of 152 for Southampton in the 2013/14 season.

Marc Albrighton, 107 points

Fleetwood Town v Leicester City – FA Cup – Third Round – Highbury Stadium
Fleetwood Town v Leicester City – FA Cup – Third Round – Highbury Stadium (Anthony Devlin/EMPICS Sport)

This season has been second only to Leicester’s title win in 2015/16 for Albrighton, who amassed eight assists and two goals from the wing.

The 28-year-old also got 12 bonus points, but still doesn’t have a single England cap.

The England squad’s top points scorers

Everton v Manchester City – Premier League – Goodison Park
Everton v Manchester City – Premier League – Goodison Park (Nigel French/EMPICS Sport)

Raheem Sterling, 229 points

Harry Kane, 217 points

Jamie Vardy, 183 points

Dele Alli, 175 points

Nick Pope, 152 points

The England squad’s lowest scorers

AFC Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League – Vitality Stadium
AFC Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League – Vitality Stadium (John Walton/PA)

Danny Rose, 24 points

Fabian Delph, 55 points

John Stones, 70 points

Danny Welbeck, 70 points

Gary Cahill, 74 points