THE label “world-class” is thrown around in football and other sports so often that no-one really knows what it means any more.

But if it is reserved for those who perform consistently at a higher level than anyone else, then James Ward-Prowse can certainly be accurately described as such when it comes to one aspect of the game.

No player in Europe’s top five leagues (currently considered to be England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France) has created more chances from set pieces this season than the 29-year-old West Ham midfielder.

According to the statistics site FBref, Ward-Prowse has created 22 goalscoring opportunities from dead-ball situations so far this season.

Such scenarios, products of the midfielder’s right boot, have lead to four goals, which again is more than any other player in Europe’s big five leagues in 2023/24.

Even when playing for the eventually relegated Southampton last season, Ward-Prowse was still the fourth in Europe’s top five leagues for chances created from set pieces.

He has yet to score directly from a free kick for West Ham but in the previous four seasons while playing for Southampton, no player in the English top flight was anywhere close to the 14 goals he scored from direct free-kicks.

Returning to a Europe-wide comparison, according to Opta only Lionel Messi, with 31, has scored more free-kick goals than Ward-Prowse’s 17 in Europe’s big five leagues since the latter took his first in the Premier League in 2014.

Such consistent production at a high level is rare and can accurately be considered world-class.

The Ward-Prowse process at set pieces is not too dissimilar to those seen in other forms of football, especially place kicking in rugby football or gridiron (American) football.

You could easily imagine these skills being transferred to field goal kicking in the NFL.

With such a rare talent in its pool of available players, it’s a wonder Ward-Prowse is not a regular for Gareth Southgate’s England.

Set-piece taking is only one part of the game and such a player would need to fit into a side in open play as well as being able to strike a dead ball.

On the face of it, England do seem to have a midfield role going spare.

Jordan Henderson filled it for some time and still manages to make the squad despite moving to a much lower level of football with al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.

Kalvin Phillips is regularly included despite barely featuring for Manchester City since joining in 2022.

Ward-Prowse is at least as good as Henderson in general play, is playing at a much higher level in the Premier League and Europa League, and is playing more regularly and consistently than Phillips.

Add set pieces that are better than any other player in the world bar Messi, and it seems like a no-brainer to include Ward-Prowse in the England squad alongside the likes of Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

“It’s a huge disappointment,” Ward-Prowse told TNT Sports after being left out of the squad in October.

“Like I said many times in interviews, you can only control what you can control as a player, and that's playing to a certain level that you believe is good enough to be in that squad.

“It’s important you play regularly and I’m doing both at the minute. I feel like I’m in a good place, and it’s not gone my way.

“But I’m focused on West Ham, doing my best for this club and enjoying every minute of it, so long that may that continue.”

Ward-Prowse last appeared for England in November 2022, meaning he has not featured for his country in over a year.

Since joining West Ham he has registered four assists in four games in the Europa League, and five assists and two goals in 11 Premier League appearances.

He’s created 15 chances from set pieces in the Europa League, more than twice as many as any other player.

He has started every game for the east London club across those two competitions, such has been his immediate importance to his new side which he has already captained in the recent game against Brentford.

“I think Gareth is doing an unbelievable job for England,” said West Ham manager David Moyes when asked about Ward-Prowse’s international omission.

“I think England have got — I say sadly a little bit being a Scotsman — such a good group of players, so many players to choose from, really good players, and James is one of them.

“I’m disappointed he didn’t get in, but Gareth is the manager and picks his squads very well.

“He’s got to keep playing well, keep making it difficult for the manager, keep being involved in assists, and scoring goals, which he has done since the start of the season.

“So if he does that, a moment might come around where Gareth says I’m going to give him another go.”

Moments of control are important in football matches, and even more so at international tournaments where short-format knockout play can lead to more unpredictability.

Dead-ball situations are a rare opportunity to have some control in a game, pausing to regroup and executing pre-planned plays.

If there is a player at your disposal who is one of the best in the world at delivering in such moments, it surely makes sense to call them up.