Troy Deeney reveals belief that outspoken nature cost him England call-up

Troy Deeney has revealed that he believes his outspoken nature might have cost him an England call-up, as well as preventing him from moving clubs during his career.

Deeney was a reliable scorer throughout the 2010s, regularly notching double-digit for goals in the Premier League each season, as well as challenging in the Championship Golden Boot race prior to Watford's promotion to the top flight.

Despite this, he never received a Three Lions cap, not even making an England squad during his peak.

Now 33 and playing for hometown club Birmingham City in the second tier, it seems that his chances of breaking his international duck are remote.

Speaking on the On the Judy Podcast - part of the 90min Podcast Network - Deeney explained that his reputation as someone who speaks their mind might have played a part in him being overlooked by his country.

Asked about his outspoken nature, he said: "It definitely stopped moves. I believe that it certainly hampered England aspirations at times. Because we've only just met each other recently and you can see that I'm cool, I'm happy-go-lucky.

"But if you don't know me, you see the football version of me and me being outspoken. It that doesn't correlate to me being a welcoming kind of guy. So why would you want that in your team? Why would you want to bring that kind of potential trouble into your team? And yeah, it's definitely stopped moves."

Deeney is also eligible for Jamaica and throughout his career he has been linked with switching his allegiances to the Reggae Boyz.

Several other England-born players have gone down this route recently including Kemar Roofe, Jamal Lowe and Michail Antonio, with the 2022 World Cup on the horizon.

However, Deeney ruled out making a similar move, saying: "I can still play for Jamaica today. But see how I look at it, it's very different.

"I think two things. One, I've never visited Jamaica myself. So why would I go and represent something I don't represent.

"My dad died before we could ever go back. My dad always said he wanted to go and he died. He's never gone. Why should I go? Like he holds an attachment. that was his dream, so why would I go and do that?"

He added: "So like me, going out to Jamaica, I'm playing, I'm taking away from someone that that's their only chance to represent their country the same way. I would love to represent England because I've grown up watching Wrighty, Alan Shearer, Gascoigne.

"Some person that works and lives in Jamaica, and he's playing football in Jamaica and might have gone to the [United] States to play football. To represent Jamaica is a big thing.

"But I get a pass because I played in the Premier League. I get to jump over him because I'm from England. So based on that, I'm actually taken away from the roots. I'm taken away from the culture, if you look at it that way, because I'm getting a head start."

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