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The Starsport columnist insists he has no vendetta against the Tottenham winger, who came off the bench for England on Tuesday to score a superb equaliser against Italy.

Townsend took to Twitter straight after the game to hit back at Merson, who had claimed in Saturday’s Daily Star that he was lucky to be in the squad.

Townsend said: “Not bad for a player who should be ‘nowhere near the squad’ ay @PaulMerse?”

But former England and Arsenal star Merson insists he was only asking why England boss Roy Hodgson had picked Townsend after seeing him hauled off at Manchester United after just 20 minutes.

Merson, whose honours include two league titles with Arsenal, responded yesterday to Townsend’s triumphant taunts and said: “I think he should concentrate on playing football, to be honest, and don’t worry about me.

“He could have got my number and rung me. That is the thing with Twitter, they get on it and say what they want.

“But I have no problems with him coming back, although I’d also say win some medals first before you call it on.

“It was a friendly against Italy and he came on in the second half.

“Let’s not beat about the bush, who have his other two goals been against - Montengro and San Marino?

“I’d be happy to have a chat with him. I’ve been wrong before and admitted it.

“I was manager at Walsall when (Crystal Palace defender) Scottie Dann was there.

“I sent him on loan to Redditch, about five leagues below us, and they sent him back.

“He wasn’t good enough and I called him in and told him he’d probably have to go somewhere else.

“And he proved me wrong, horribly wrong. I saw him at the cinema about three years ago.

“I was with the kids and he pulled up with his girlfriend and straight away I went to him and said ‘sorry mate, I got that horribly wrong’.

“If I had Townsend’s number I probably would’ve rung him like I did with Rickie Lambert about a year ago.

“I said he wouldn’t score goals in a higher league for Southampton. I rung him up and said I’d got that horribly wrong.

“It is not a problem with me. I want people to do well. Fair play, it was a very good goal. I don’t sit there and say something negative, then hope they do bad.

“But I don’t think I got it wrong because what I was saying was I don’t think he should have been in the squad if Hodgson goes to watch a football match and sees him subbed after 20 minutes.

“There is two reasons you get subbed after 20 minutes. One - you are absolutely shocking, which he was. Two - the goalkeeper gets sent off and you have to get subbed.”

Merson believes Townsend still has it all to prove as an international.

“Have I changed my mind? He scored a very good goal,” he said.

“I have got no vendetta against him, but I am not going to sit here and say he is top drawer.

“He plays for England and I hope he does well. Don’t think I sat there the other night and was upset for him when he scored. I was well pleased.

“But he’s just got back at Tottenham for the last seven or eight games. Where has he been all season?

“And you can’t say I am anti-Tottenham. There is no bigger fan of Harry Kane than me. I think he is unbelievable. You can’t throw that Arsenal-Tottenham thing at me.”

Bookies yesterday offered odds of 8-13 that Townsend would beat Merson’s England caps tally of 21.

“He will do that easy,” said Merson. “ You only have to look at the era I playing in - Ian Wright (33 caps), Les Ferdinand (17), Robbie Fowler (26).

“You put those three players together and they won’t probably get as many caps as Danny Welbeck will get.

“Steve McManaman didn’t used to get on but he’d probably be captain now for England. How does that work? Townsend’s got seven now, so 15 more...he will do that.”

Merson, though, did see the funny side of their public spat.

“At least the lad reads my column, which is good!” he added.

“I’ve just had to do a Sky Bet prediction for Tottenham’s game against Burnley this weekend. I’ve gone for 1-1. Guess who I’ve gone for as first goal-scorer - Townsend!

“That is how it works, you score for England and your confidence is going to be sky high.”

*Read more from Paul Merson in Saturday's Daily Star*