England manager Gareth Southgate moved a step closer to finalising his Euro 2024 plans as he named his latest squad ahead of friendly matches against Brazil and Belgium later this month.
Southgate brings in Jarrad Branthwaite and Anthony Gordon for their first senior call ups, and recalls Joe Gomez and Ivan Toney to the squad after spells away. Gomez, who won the last of his 11 senior caps in October 2020, has returned from the international wilderness for these Wembley friendlies. Toney is back involved at the first opportunity after serving an eight-month Football Association betting ban.
Cole Palmer also makes the squad as he hopes to add to his two England caps. Jordan Henderson retains his place in the group but there is no spot for Kalvin Phillips, who is struggling to make an impact on loan at West Ham after a long time marginalised at Manchester City. Raheem Sterling was conspicuous by his absence once again, and Southgate revealed Arsenal’s Ben White has made himself unavailable for England selection.
The March international break represents a final chance to experiment and try out some new faces.
England squad announced
- Gareth Southgate names 25-man squad for Brazil and Belgium friendlies
- Jarrad Branthwaite and Anthony Gordon earn first England call ups
- Joe Gomez and Ivan Toney return to fold for final squad before Euros
- Kalvin Phillips dropped: ‘His form hasn’t been good enough’
- Southgate on Ben White: ‘He didn’t want to be considered for England at this time’
- England missing several players including Grealish, Trippier and Alexander-Arnold
- Final 23-man group to be announced in June ahead of Euro 2024
Southgate admits injured Luke Shaw is ‘touch and go’ for Euros
17:59 , Lawrence Ostlere
Gareth Southgate had some interesting things to say about Luke Shaw, who is sidelined with an injury until May. The manager has previously said he would be reluctant to take half-fit players to the Euros, particularly given the smaller squad size this time around (reduced from 26 players at the Qatar World Cup back down to 23), and he seemed to reiterate that point here.
When asked whether Shaw was “touch and go” for the summer, Southgate told Radio 5 Live: “Well, we’d have to say yes is the answer to that because the timelines would suggest he’ll only be available in the dying embers of the season. You don’t know what version of the player you’re going to get.
“We might have everybody that’s currently injured back and available, but how fit and how match fit and how robust [they are] to get through a tournament, we’re going to have to work that out as well in the next few months.”
