CHRIS SUTTON has revealed he once snubbed an England call-up from Glenn Hoddle.
The Premier League winner admitted it was his biggest regret when he ended his playing career.
Despite his title victory with Blackburn in 1995 and a top-flight golden boot three years later, Sutton won just a single England cap.
However, it may have been more had he not turned down a place in an England B squad in 1998.
Appearing on Football Focus alongside Alex Scott and Martin Keown, he discussed Ben White’s decision to turn down the Three Lions.
Asked by Scott “what happened in 1998?” Sutton recalled his own international woes.
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He explained: “I was an idiot, I refused to play for the England B squad.
“I actually made my one England cap against Cameroon in the November of the season I won the Golden Boot.
“My form was good and I understood there was a lot of good strikers around at that particular time but there were a few injuries.
“I thought Glenn Hoddle should have picked me. He didn’t, he put me in the B squad.
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“So I told him where to go and, do you know what, it’s my biggest regret. It really is. I was an idiot to do that and at the end of my career, I looked back and (thought) ‘how stupid was I?’
“I’ve apologised to Glenn Hoddle subsequently since then, but I think Ben White is in the form of his life at Arsenal. He could go with England to the Euros and England have a chance of winning it.
“And you can’t tell me when he’s 40, he won’t look back and think ‘blimey, what an opportunity’.”
Gareth Southgate revealed this week that he had been told White did not want to be called up for friendlies.
As a result, the Arsenal defender was left out of his latest England squad and a recall for this summer’s Euros has also been ruled out.
Keown agreed with Sutton that White will regret his decision, adding: “I think there will be regrets from Ben White in years to come.
“I’m still available for England selection if they need me now, so it’s one of those.
“I don’t think you ever really retire from England as a player.”
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After Scott revealed he pulled his calf in the gym last week, though, the ex-Arsenal man joked: “Yeah maybe it might not be a good idea, Gareth, don’t pick me right now.”
Unlike Sutton, won 43 caps for the Three Lions, scoring twice, and was part of the 1998 and 2002 World Cup squads.
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Ciaran Wiseman
