Friday 3 November 2017 11:22, UK
West Brom boss Tony Pulis says Jake Livermore will not be fazed by his omission from the England squad, adding the midfielder is a potential club captain.
Livermore missed out on a place in the England squad for this month's friendlies against Germany and Brazil, with Gareth Southgate handing Joe Gomez, Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek their first call-ups.
Pulis believes England boss Southgate simply wants to explore all options available to him, insisting Livermore is playing arguably the best football of his West Brom career.
"Gareth is going to have a look at other people and everything else," Pulis told reporters ahead of West Brom's visit to Huddersfield.
"I think Jake in the last two or three games has been back to his best. He has played better football in the last few games than when he got selected before.
"I don't think it is anything other than Gareth wanting to bring a few others in. There are people like [Chris] Smalling being left out as well. [I think he is just] looking at other people."
Asked whether being left out could affect Livermore's confidence, Pulis said: "No not at all, he's great. He has been absolutely fantastic at this football club.
"He's very, very good off the pitch not just on the pitch. Eventually he could end up being the captain, he is that good around the place."
West Brom travel to Huddersfield looking for their first win in nine Premier League games and Pulis is expecting a hostile environment at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
"We need to be prepared and ready. I have been to Huddersfield and it's like playing a cup final," Pulis said.
"Their crowd are absolutely fantastic. They clap everything they do whether it is a challenge a pass or whether it goes out of play.
"They are amazing. It's an absolutely unbelievable atmosphere so the players have to be aware of what they are going into. It is a wonderful, wonderful atmosphere there."
