Conor Coady has admitted he’s saddened by Ben White’s absence from the England squad, praising the defender’s work behind the scenes on international duty.

There’s been plenty of speculation circling since the revelation that Ben White turned down the chance to play for England this month, with various theories as to why that might be.

Some reports have spoken of White’s discontent at the way he’s been utilised (or not) in previous England camps, others have highlighted a row with England assistant Steve Holland, and then there’s the fact that the player has been carrying a knee injury.

But any suggestions that White wasn’t a good character to have around the squad, or that he didn’t train well with England, have been shot down by fellow international Conor Coady.

“When I was in the England squad and he was, he was a great character to have around the place,” Coady said this week.

“He is a great lad, first and foremost. How he trains, how he goes on about his business, he is top, top drawer.

“Yeah [I’m saddened by the situation], because I think he is a phenomenal player. What he is doing at this moment in time with Bukayo Saka down the right-hand side for Arsenal is, I think, incredible, and he deserves to play for his country.”

At Euro 2020, White was technically in the England squad, but he only made the bench twice in seven games. He was fit, he was just completely left out five times in seven matches.

Then at the World Cup, White was on the bench against Iran and the USA, but he still didn’t get any minutes.

In the months between those two tournaments, the defender played 135 minutes of football for England.

That combined with the fact his row with Steve Holland was leaked to the media seems like the most reasonable explanation for White’s decision not to accept a call-up this time.

With White signing a new contract at Arsenal that could last all the way until 2029, most fans of the club probably don’t care too much why the defender isn’t playing for England anyway.