Gareth Southgate dismisses England 'bust up' claim with ex-Leeds United star before France clash

Ex Whites loanee Ben White was included in Southgate's squad in Qatar but left the camp and returned home after the group stages. A statement released by England at the time explained that White had returned home for personal reasons and that the Arsenal defender was not expected to return to the squad for the remainder of the tournament. England asked that the player’s privacy was respected at this moment in time.

But a report by the Daily Star on Friday claimed that White returned home following an ‘alleged bust-up with assistant boss Steve Holland.’ The report claimed that White initially ‘became unhappy in the England camp and struggled to mix with his fellow team-mates.’ The Daily Star claim that the "the final straw came when he had a fall out with Gareth Southgate's No2 Holland in front of the rest of the squad."

But Southgate was asked about the story ahead of Saturday night's last eight clash against France and quickly dismissed the claims by giving those suggestions short shrift. Asked if he could elaborate on the story, Southgate told talkSPORT: “Well, not really. What I’ve been shown was alleged and there was another word that was used. I think by commenting on the story I could be giving it any form of credibility, really. We explained why Ben left the camp and I think it’s important that that is respected, really.”

The report from the Daily Star claimed that White and Holland were 'understood to have exchanged words when White turned up for a team meeting ahead of the Group B clash with the USA not knowing some vital information relating to his personal stats.'

The Daily Star claimed that 'Holland is also said to have been less than impressed with White's poor knowledge of England's American opponents.'