Everton's Ross Barkley looks dejected. Football Soccer Britain - Everton v Stoke City - Premier League - Goodison Park - 27/8/16. Action Images via Reuters / Ed Sykes Livepic
(Reuters) - England manager Sam Allardyce has defended the decision to leave Everton midfielder Ross Barkley out of his first squad for the 2018 World Cup qualifier in Slovakia at the weekend.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed an impressive start to the Premier League season and many observers felt he had done enough to deserve a place in the 23-man group named on Sunday.
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