Sam Allardyce insists that the door will always be open to Ross Barkley despite dropping the Everton midfielder from his maiden England squad.
Barkley failed to make the cut for the national side’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia next weekend despite enjoying a starring role for the Blues.
But Allardyce admits that the 22-year-old’s omission was a difficult decision and has not discounted the possibility of recalling him in the near future.
He said: “It’s been a well thought-out squad. We’ve had to make some very difficult decisions, none more so than Ross Barkley.
“For him it’s disappointing but the door is always open and I have to make these decisions. I feel the squad I‘ve picked is the right one at this moment.”