Top News

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has no complaints about his surprising England snub and intends to spend his unexpected break visiting his grandparents.

Rather than featuring at Wembley against Wales before travelling to Latvia for a World Cup qualifier, the 21 year old, who has become a cornerstone of the Eagles' recent triumphs, will instead reconnect with family after being overlooked by national team manager Thomas Tuchel.

Even Everton's hero Jack Grealish, who was also ignored for England despite his revival following his loan switch to Merseyside from Manchester City, believed Wharton deserved the man-of-the-match accolade ahead of him in the Toffees' dramatic 2-1 triumph on Sunday.

• Enzo Maresca breaks silence on Liverpool red card as Chelsea boss issues honest statement
• Liverpool stance on signing Chelsea star in January after disastrous blow for Enzo Maresca

Having withdrawn from Tuchel's previous squad through injury, there was no room for Wharton on this occasion, but the midfielder maintains there are no bitter feelings.

"He just gave me a message saying I'm playing well, I'm close and I deserve to be there but he's going to stick with the same team," Wharton revealed regarding news of his exclusion.

"That's football, I'm not too fussed about that. I can take the time off, go see my grandparents, and it's not the end of the world as there's another camp next month. Nothing is expected. England have some top players and he's got a lot of players to choose from. No matter who he picks someone is not going to get in and there will be a fuss about it.

"I can't sit here and cry about it, this is football and I'm happy playing for Palace and getting minutes and trying to do as well as I can and improve and if I get picked, I get picked.

"If not I'll carry on playing for Palace and enjoying it – there's nothing else I can do really. Obviously everyone wants to play for their country if they get chosen but, like I said, this is football and he's got plenty of top players to choose from and that's what he gets paid to do, pick the team and help England do well.

"Hopefully they kick on and get the results they need to qualify for the World Cup. I'll keep knocking on the door and if I'm in, I'm in and if not I'll carry on."

Even Everton boss David Moyes acknowledged Palace ought to have been comfortably ahead following Daniel Munoz's strike in a first half controlled by the away side, but having squandered their chances, they succumbed to a much-improved second-half showing.

Iliman Ndiaye converted a 76th-minute spot-kick before Grealish, the Premier League's player of the month for August, deflected a Munoz clearance which ricocheted off him into the goal during the third minute of stoppage time to halt Palace's 19-match undefeated streak.

"I think we got a bit complacent as we were playing so well but you can't do that in the Premier League," added Wharton.

"They got a goal back and the crowd got behind them, a great atmosphere for them to kick on, get the momentum and it was difficult from there."