Lee Sharpe laments his lack of opportunities with England
Former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe says he is disappointed not to have been capped more by England.
Sharpe made eight appearances for the Three Lions between 1991 and 1993, but was unable to nail down a regular place in the starting XI.
Having been signed from Torquay United for a bargain fee in 1988, Sharpe subsequently helped the Red Devils win seven major trophies.
He became the youngest player to wear an England U21 shirt against Greece in Patras on February 7, 1989. He was 17 years and 256 days old.
Graham Taylor subsequently called him into the full England squad as a teenager in 1991, before injuries and illness took their toll on him.
Sharpe was part of a team which struggled to live up to expectations – a point evidenced by their record of two wins and two draws in the eight games he played.
When Taylor was replaced by Terry Venables after failing to guide England to the 1994 World Cup, Sharpe’s international opportunities dried up.
Speaking exclusively to Man Utd News with courtesy of Coin Poker, Sharpe admitted that he found the rejection tough to take.
“I just had a bit of inconsistency and didn’t play well at club level for England to pick me regularly,” Sharpe said.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed not to get more caps because I know left-sided, left-footed players were a bit of a rarity at the time.
“I played leading up to the lack of qualification for America in 1994, and the manager was absolutely destroyed in the press.
“He got sacked after the World Cup, and Venables came in. He had his own ideas and his own players in mind. Once Taylor left, it was always going to be a bit trickier.”
Also Read:
- Lee Sharpe believes squad reshuffle will transform Man United’s fortunes
- Lee Sharpe backs Ruben Amorim to get things right at Man Utd
- No United players in Tuchel’s England squad for summer fixtures
Article written by michaeljblack .