Former Newcastle United forward Micky Quinn has claimed that Magpies captain Jamaal Lascelles should be in the England squad ahead of Manchester City's John Stones.

Lascelles has had an impressive 2017-18 campaign at St James' Park, but the 24-year-old was not given an opportunity to impress for the Three Lions during the recent international break.

His lack of involvement up to this point suggests that it will be difficult for the centre-back to make Gareth Southgate's squad for the 2018 World Cup.

Quinn, however, has insisted that Lascelles is 'easily among the best five English centre-backs'.

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The pundit even claimed that the reported Chelsea target should be in the squad ahead of City's Stones, who had some nervy moments during the clash with Italy last week.

Quinn wrote in the Evening Chronicle:

"It actually really frustrates me that Lascelles keeps being overlooked by Gareth Southgate for England.

"He is easily among the best five English centre-backs at the moment - in fact, I’d have him in the squad ahead of John Stones. I really would."

Lascelles signed for Newcastle from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2014, and is closing on a century of appearances for the Magpies.