The 30-year-old centre-back’s impressive form for a West Ham team who are chasing an unlikely top-four finish has led to calls for him to be part of the England squad.

 

Southgate is finalising the list of players he wants to take to this European Championship and Dawson has emerged as one of the dark horse contenders.

 

 

Upson believes Dawson’s form has put him in the limelight, but indicated that he is not sure that his style of play would suit what Southgate wants from his centre-backs.

 

The England manager famously dropped Chris Smalling from his plans for not being comfortable on the ball and demands his defenders to be at ease when in possession.

 

 

The former West Ham star suggested that Dawson’s old school type of defending might not be what England want at the moment.

 

Upson told The Athletic: “For international football, it comes down to your style as a player and what you can offer.

 

 

“Dawson’s domestic form has been great and you can put him up there with a list of players who are playing well in his position.

 

“But then you break down the criteria of how Gareth Southgate wants to play, it sometimes comes down to that judgment rather than how well you are playing for your club.

 

“There’s a huge amount of pressure when it comes to playing for England and right now there’s a need to be really comfortable with the ball.”

 

Dawson represented England Under-21s a decade ago and the Great Britain team in the Olympics a year later but has not close to playing for the Three Lions.