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Martin Keown and Simon Jordan were involved in a fierce debate as the topic of Ben White's England future reared its head again. The Arsenal star is currently out of the England reckoning after withdrawing himself from contention for the Three Lions. It comes after the defender flew home from England's World Cup camp in Qatar in late 2022 - the last time that he was part of the national team setup. White has not featured for England in nearly two years under the leadership of Gareth Southgate or Lee Carsley, however the appointment of Thomas Tuchel could represent a fresh opportunity for the 27-year-old. It's talk SPORT's understanding that White will make a U-turn and declare himself available for selection. But with the public perception being that he has turned his back on his country, the topic sparked a heated debate between Jordan and Keown. Asked if White could be recalled, Keown told White and Jordan: "I think it’s a little bit disrespectful to go to that topic when we’ve not yet spoken about Morgan Rogers, Taylor Harwood-Bellis who got a chance from nowhere, Conor Gallagher too. “You’re talking about Ben White who has just had a procedure on his knee and needs to get into the Arsenal team first before he gets into the England team. “But I think it would be good news if he was available because it’s an area where we need better, more experienced players. " Jordan interrupted, saying: "You’ve been praising the culture of players who want to play for England – here’s a player who doesn’t want to play for England and now because he’s playing for Arsenal you’re advocating that he can get back into the England fold! ” It is understood White left Qatar 2022 due to a disagreement with former assistant coach Steve Holland under Gareth Southgate. Holland has now departed his role with the Three Lions following Southgate's exit. Keown continued by saying: “I’m saying that we need to hold the door open because we’re not blessed with experienced players in that position. “Why is it an exception? He’s fallen out with Steve Holland by all accounts and neither man wanted to back down – we’re not privy to the conversation, okay? “For me it doesn’t really matter at the moment because he’s not fit and available and hasn’t declared anything publicly. “When he does, then there’s a different conversation. ” Jordan, who believes that White's England days could be over, replied: “I think you have to take the rough with the smooth and Martin will attest to the point that you judge people in adversity, not when things are going your way. “He doesn’t get on with Steve Holland so he decides he wants to exclude himself when his nation needs him in a tournament – ‘not for me thanks, doesn’t suit me’. “To my mind, from an outsider looking in, I don’t think that’s acceptable. “I don’t think that’s the mentality and culture that you want in the trenches when it gets dirty. “If there is fuel to the fire that he didn’t get on with Steve Holland then so what? Get over it. “Get past it, be a man and have some character – the kind of character that separates winners from losers and people that can achieve and overcome adversity, bite down on your gumshield and represent your country. “It was John F Kennedy who said ‘don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country’ – where was Ben White? On his sunbed looking at himself in a mirror. “The privilege that you’ve got is to be called up for your country and if you don’t think that’s a privilege because you’ve had some hurty words with somebody then you’re not the kind of person I think we should be talking about. ” But Keown took a much more sympathetic view, saying: “When you play for your country you stand in that tunnel and you represent everybody, so to get that far and allow someone to snatch that away, that wouldn’t have been me. “But I’m not privy to the conversation. “If he needed help with that then I’d love to support him and get him back in the fold, but I don’t think we should slam the door in his face as other people have said. “I think we should be a little bit more understanding because he’s someone who can add real value to the England team and Thomas Tuchel will be looking at what he brings on the pitch and not the bigger picture. ” Despite starring for the Gunners during the 2023/24 campaign, White held firm on his stance for Euro 2024. His last England appearance came against the Ivory Coast in an international friendly in March 2022. White has made four appearances for the Three Lions in total. This service is provided on talk SPORT Ltd's Terms of Use in accordance with our Privacy Policy.