Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has dismissed suggestions Raheem Sterling should be in the England squad.

Injuries to Callum Wilson, Jude Bellingham and James Maddison left a void in the Three Lions’ squad, with many expecting the Chelsea star to earn a recall. He has not been selected for international duty since the World Cup last winter.

An improved campaign so far following the disaster of last season - combined with his former status as a Gareth Southgate favourite - led many to believe Sterling would return. Scoring the first equaliser against Manchester City was also fresh in the mind but the phone call never came.

His former teammate at Liverpool, Jamie Carragher, believes Sterling will be “disappointed” to miss out. He told Sky Sports last week: “Sterling has been brilliant. There's no doubt he'll be disappointed he is not in the England squad. I think he has a case.”

However, Jordan has refuted those claims, going as far as to call the winger “overrated” despite his solid start to the season. Southgate instead handed Chelsea colleague Cole Palmer his maiden bow and the ex-Palace chief has insisted that is the right decision.

“Eyebrows have been raised over Raheem Sterling’s continued omission from the England squad,” Jordan wrote in his Daily Mail column. “But why? He’s been pretty bang average for Chelsea. Ok, he’s had a few decent games in recent weeks but I haven’t seen a series of hugely impressive performances from him that mean he demands inclusion.

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“Oh yes, I forgot the dizzy heights of a couple of goals against odds-on relegation favourites Luton Town! Why wouldn’t you weaponise Palmer in terms of experience and understanding what international football is like? He is the future and, if Palmer continues to mature and progress as the season goes on, he could well be on the plane to Germany next summer.

“There was constant debate over his playing time and form when he was at Manchester City yet he was always indulged by England. There were plenty of times when people expressed surprise at his inclusion in an England squad and questioned Southgate’s thinking so, ironically, he’s on the other side of the argument now.

“He’s not getting into England’s strongest team ahead of Bukayo Saka or Jack Grealish anyway, so I don’t understand all the fuss. I have to be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of Sterling as a player.

"I have always felt he was overrated. There is no doubt he’s a good player but world-class? Give me a break.”