Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville (Picture: YouTube)
Gary Neville believes Gareth Southgate ‘loves’ Conor Gallagher but is reluctant to play him at Euro 2024 due to the potential backlash from England fans.
Southgate must decide who to play alongside Arsenal record signing Declan Rice in the centre of midfield, with Gallagher, Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton and Trent Alexander-Arnold all options.
Gallagher impressed as Chelsea’s captain for most of last season, featuring in all but one of the Blues’ Premier League games to earn a place in England’s Euros squad.
A bustling and energetic midfielder, Gallagher has a lot to offer England but Neville believes his selection would be seen as an overly conservative move from Southgate, who is aiming to lead the Three Lions to their first major trophy since 1966.
As a result, Neville expects Southgate to start Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s Euro 2024 opener against Serbia on Sunday despite ‘loving’ Gallagher.
‘I’ve got this feeling that Gareth loves Gallagher,’ the former England and Manchester United defender said on The Overlap.
‘He may not throw him at us in game one because he might think that will set off on a negative tone of putting Gallagher alongside Rice with Bellingham advanced.
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher in England training (Picture: Getty)
‘Personally, the team I think he wants to go for, is that (Pickford-Walker-Stones-Guehi-Trippier-Rice-Gallagher-Bellingham-Saka-Kane-Foden).
‘For me, I think where Gareth is going to end up, is to get that extra runner, the one that can go and take the ball off people because he [Gallagher] is really good at that.
‘I think he wants him in, but I don’t think he’ll start to start with. I think he’ll put Trent [Alexander-Arnold] in as that will almost be deemed as an acceptable bridge between giving us Foden, Bellingham and Rice and what will be the more, it’s not as sexy is it Conor Gallagher, with respect.’
Gallagher, who is being heavily linked with a move away from boyhood club Chelsea, has 13 caps for England and been a regular in the squad since late 2021.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Gallagher insisted he was solely focused on performing for England and not speculation over his future amid interest from Aston Villa and Tottenham.
‘I’m a Chelsea player right now and I’m just thinking about England and the tournament,’ the 24-year-old said. ‘It’s not difficult. I’m away with England and I couldn’t be happier with the position I’m in.
‘I’ve just been focusing on England. This is the most important thing right now for me and the country. I’m hoping I can help the team more on the pitch in this tournament.’
After beginning their Euros campaign against Serbia, Southgate’s side – who lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy on penalties – meet Group C rivals Denmark and Slovenia.
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