ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate admitted Saints frontman Danny Ings had been “unfortunate” not to be selected in his Euro 2020 provisional squad.

Ings forced his way back into the England fold this season, ending a five-year absence from the senior side to feature in September’s Nations League victory over Iceland in Reykjavik.

The former Liverpool frontman also scored his first England goal during a 3-0 win over Wales at Wembley back in October.

But Ings missed out on March’s internationals against San Marino, Albania and Poland – with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins called up for the first time.

And asked about Ings’s omission this time round, Southgate insisted consistency was key in his selection.

“The basis of this squad is the squad that we picked in March,” said the England boss.

“There are other players who have come in but we were very pleased with the forwards in March.

"That is unfortunate that Danny has missed out but we have also left out Patrick Bamford who has had had a very good season.

"We did not see a reason to change those positions from those qualifiers in March."

Ings scored 14 goals in 35 appearances for club and country during the 2020-21 season.