Trent Alexander-Arnold backed to get phone call by coach after nightmare results

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The ex-Liverpool defender has not been selected in the last four England squads and most expect him to miss out on a spot at the World Cup, but one ex-captain has encouraged Thomas Tuchel to offer him another chanceSteven Gerrard has backed Trent Alexander-Arnold to earn an England call-up this summer(Image: Getty Images)Steven Gerrard has backed Trent Alexander-Arnold to be handed an England reprieve and thinks Thomas Tuchel should select the ex-Liverpool defender for this summer’s World Cup.The Real Madrid star, who called time on his 20-year association with his boyhood Reds last summer, has played just 26 minutes across Tuchel’s 12 games in charge of the Three Lions, and has been omitted from the last four squads.He was again overlooked for last month’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, with Tuchel admitting it was a difficult decision as he knows what Alexander-Arnold “can offer.” Given the 27-year-old was not selected in an expanded 35-man group, most believe his chances of being named in the World Cup roster are non-existent, but Gerrard feels he should be handed an unlikely call-up.READ MORE: Steven Gerrard points at Luis Diaz when asked about Mohamed Salah replacementREAD MORE: Steven Gerrard 'worried' Arne Slot will lose Liverpool job as 'key' game namedAsked on talkSPORT if he was shocked by Alexander-Arnold’s omission, the former Liverpool and England captain replied: “Yes, and even more surprised if you look at the last two England games.“I think it was crying out for Trent-like quality in terms of that creation that you need against Uruguay, against Japan.“You need someone who's going to be able to open the door, or someone off the bench who can come on and improve things if things are not going how you want them to.Gerrard wants Alexander-Arnold to be called up to the World Cup squad(Image: Getty Images)“So for him to not be in the 35 best England players for me is a huge shock. [I’m] very surprised, and the only good and positive thing about that is he's got time to resurrect it.“I'm not in Thomas Tuchel's shoes, but if I was, the first thing I would have been doing after the Japan game is getting on the phone back to Trent and saying, ‘Listen, it's not over for you, son.' On the back of them two performances."When it was put to Gerrard that Alexander-Arnold may benefit from not featuring in the underwhelming performances against Uruguay and Japan, he responded: “We've all been in that situation where you're suspended or you're injured and the team don't do well and then everyone thinks you're better than what you are, and we've all been there."But I don't think the get-together has done Trent any harm at all.“Listen, it was an experimental international break, it can go either way. You can win comfortably in both games and then the nation gets carried away and more pressure on the players.“I think it was a bit of a reality check, a bit of a wake-up call, but I have no doubt when he gets his best players back in the squad and back on the pitch, i.e. your [Harry] Kane, your Declan Rices, your Jude Bellingham, you get your proper pillars in that team, your proper keeper in place and a settled back four.“There's no doubts about it, that this group of players have proved they can go the distance, and what I mean by that is semi-finals and finals.“I have no doubt they can go and have another huge massive effort in the summer, but the last international break was a washout, and in terms of some of the manager’s personal decisions, I don't agree with because I think that these players can make a difference come the summer.”