Gareth Southgate has left Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling out of England’s provisional squad for Euro 2024, while handing shock call-ups to Adam Wharton, Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones.
Rashford is paying the price for a disappointing season at Manchester United, while Henderson’s international career is finally over after a disastrous season at Saudi club Al-Ettifaq and then Ajax.
Sterling, another stalwart of Southgate’s era as Three Lions boss, also fails to make the 33-man squad after a mixed season at Chelsea.
On Rashford’s omission, Southgate explained: ‘Other players in that part of the pitch have had better seasons. It’s that simple.’
He attributed Henderson’s absence to an injury sustained after the last internationals in March.
Marcus Rashford has been left out of Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad for England’s Euro 2024 this summer.
Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling is another big name missing from Southgate’s provisional squad
Ajax’s Jordan Henderson is another high-profile name left out of England’s European Championship squad
‘Hendo has given himself every opportunity. The determining factor was the injury he suffered during the last camp. “He missed five weeks and couldn’t maintain the intensity,” he said.
“He will be missed, he is an exceptional individual, a fantastic human being and he has been in that leadership role since I took charge.
‘We have young players with many international caps and there is no reason why they cannot take charge.’
But Southgate is willing to give young players the chance to force their way into the squad heading to Germany for the tournament.
Uncapped Liverpool midfielder Jones and defender Quansah have been included, while Wharton has been rewarded for his excellent Crystal Palace form following an £18m January transfer from Blackburn.
Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has been selected despite injury concerns that leave his participation in the European Championship in doubt, while his Old Trafford team-mate Kobbie Mainoo has been re-selected.
On Shaw, Southgate admitted: ‘He’s struggling, he’s missed a lot of football and the fact he’s our first choice in that position is the reason we’re giving him more time than we could have done. I don’t know what is realistic at this point.
‘The medical team are liaising with Manchester United but I would say he is a gamble.’
Adam Wharton has been rewarded for his Crystal Palace form since joining in January
Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah has been given a chance to impress amid defensive injury problems
Harry Kane’s two understudies up front – Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins – are both in contention, although only one can make the final.
Also selected in attack are Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, James Maddison and Cole Palmer, with Southgate determined to give everyone an audition.
That also applies in defence, with Everton’s uncapped centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, Liverpool’s versatile Joe Gomez, Villa’s Ezri Konsa, Brighton’s Lewis Dunk and Palace’s Marc Guehi alongside more established names such as Harry Maguire and John Stones.
Burnley’s James Trafford is one of four goalkeepers picked in the extended squad.
The selected players will report to a training camp and hope for a chance to impress Southgate in the pre-European Championship friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park in Newcastle on June 3 and Iceland at Wembley on June 7.
The deadline for reducing the squad to a maximum of 26 players is June 7.
England start their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on June 16 in Gelsenkirchen, with Denmark and Slovenia also in their group.
Eric Dier was not part of the selection despite a strong second half of the season at Bayern Munich.
‘[He has] played very well for Bayern and I know they are very happy with him,” said the England manager.
“He’s right behind the guys we selected. We watch every game and he also played well in the Champions League. We have assessed all that.’
The official announcement contained a few positional oddities, naming Jude Bellingham as one of the strikers, but Southgate insisted nothing should be read into that.
He said: “I wouldn’t obsess over where we’ve positioned the players. I write a list and other people put a headline on it.
‘I don’t know where players will be cut. In a few weeks we will be much clearer on a number of points.’
More to follow.
