Arsenal defender Ben White has confirmed that he's "definitely available" for England selection.
The 27-year-old has not featured for the national team since the 2022 World Cup, with former manager Gareth Southgate revealing last March that the defender did not want to be selected by the national team at that point.
White returned early from Qatar for what the Football Association called “personal reasons” and reports later emerged of an alleged bust-up with then England assistant Steve Holland.
Now, ahead of Thomas Tuchel naming his squad for next month’s World Cup qualifier in Andorra before a home friendly against Senegal, White has opened up on making a return to the England squad. As per the Daily Mirror, the Gunners star said: "I'm definitely available. I spoke to him a few times and he's such a nice, nice man, very honest.
"Obviously I haven't been back for too long so it’s just about playing now and hopefully making my way back in."
White underwent knee surgery in November and missed a large part of the 2024/25 campaign. He is now fit and available again, though, and will be hoping to be included in Tuchel's next England squad, which will be named next Friday.
Speaking in March, Tuchel said on White: "He loves to be back in the squad, I just think it’s a bit too early now for him given the seriousness of the injury that he had. I’m delighted that he’s back, he’s back now in back-to-back trainings, so we were monitoring the process.
“Huge compliments to the medical and performance department of the FA, and thanks to everyone at Arsenal for letting us monitor closely. So, we’re on it, I’m speaking to him, I was speaking to him at the Champions League match now.
“I think now it’s just a question about getting more minutes, getting more rhythm, and then he has every chance to be back, and he wants to be back, and is glad to be back.”
For now, White has his eyes firmly on Arsenal's two remaining Premier League games against Newcastle and Southampton. Jurrien Timber has been Arsenal's starting right-back for most of the season and White insists the competition for places is healthy.
"Seeing JT come back from an ACL, he's had to play every game and has done so well. It would have been ideal if I could have helped and maybe taken a little bit of stress off him," White admitted.
"I think it's a great situation for everyone, we're two completely different full-backs so it's nice to have different options and different qualities to bring to the team."
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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