Premier League boss pleads with Thomas Tuchel to snub his player for England call-up

England midfielder Adam Wharton is firing again after spending almost four months out with a groin injury but Crystal Palace are concerned by him being overloaded too quickly

Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner is urging new England boss Thomas Tuchel not to pick Adam Wharton for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.

Midfielder Wharton made his first league start since October in Tuesday night’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa at Selhurst Park having had surgery on a groin injury in November.

Palace are keen to protect him from being overloaded and Glasner pointed to last summer’s European Championship campaign, when Wharton was part of Gareth Southgate ’s runners-up squad, as the reason behind his difficult opening months to this season.

Glasner said: “Everybody knows what Adam can do – but we have to be patient. Since the final of the Euros, he’s struggled – he will get more minutes.

“He will get many games for the Three Lions in his career. I don’t know if this will be the right moment in March after a long injury. Give him time, he is a young boy with a great talent. But at the end of the day it will be Thomas Tuchel’s decision.”

Wharton was named man of the match in an impressive win against Villa. “It’s a great win,” he said. “Obviously the fans were unbelievable tonight, we had to be patient, Villa are a top side.

“We knew if we stuck to the plan, keep the intensity in the game, we’ll get the chances. The big man [Jean-Philippe Mateta] and Ish [Ismaila Sarr] took their chances really well.”

New boss Tuchel is preparing to name his maiden squad for the qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at Wembley and Spurs star James Maddison has confirmed they have already spoken on the phone as the ex-Chelsea chief phones up a wide group of potential call-ups.

Attacking midfielder Maddison feel he is back in top shape after suffering from both a calf injury and illness since December.

“He has touched base,” Maddison said. “I think he was reaching out to a lot of players who would be in the selection, probably quite a big pool of players that the FA have identified.

“I’m hungry to be part of that. I feel like I’m in good form, my numbers are pretty good, there’s not too many midfielders who can out-score and out-assist me.

“Especially now when I’m feeling good as well, feeling sharp. “I know I can affect most games. It’s just about continuing to do that. Like I always say, if I play at that level for Tottenham, then the rest will take care of itself because I have a really strong self-belief.”

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