James Milner hints at international retirement with England

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 31 July 2016

James Milner admits that he is weighing up whether to continue playing at international level for England after growing frustrated by a lack of playing time.

Liverpool midfielder James Milner has suggested that he could call time on his international career with England after failing to gain regular playing time.

The 30-year-old, who has been capped 61 times for the Three Lions, featured for just three minutes in the European Championship finals earlier this summer.

With a number of young players now knocking on the door for a squad place, Milner believes that it might be time to step aside after 15 years' service from Under-16s through to the senior side.

"Over the last couple of years with the England team I have not really played too much," he told the Liverpool Echo. "With the good young players we have coming through, it is pointless me taking up a spot just because I am reliable.

"I am fortunate to have been involved in international football since I was 17 or 18 without stopping. I was with the Under-21s and went through so I have played more than 100 games.

"I've been to four tournaments but if a younger guy had come in and maybe done the same job at Euro 2016, he would have taken a lot more from it than I did."

Milner, who was also part of the World Cup 2010 and 2014 squads, was the third-most capped player for England in France behind Wayne Rooney (115) and Joe Hart (63).