Luke Shaw has been out with a thigh problem (Picture: Getty Images)
Gareth Southgate is dealing with a ‘significant number’ of injuries after naming his preliminary England squad for Euro 2024, admitting that Luke Shaw is ‘a long shot’ to make the tournament despite making the initial cut.
The Three Lions boss named a 33-man squad on Tuesday afternoon, but will need to cut that down to 26 players by 7 June, before the tournament begins a week later.
‘There are some injury issues that are obvious and apparent and there are some that are a little bit more nuanced and we don’t have all the information on,’ said Southgate.
‘This has been as complicated a group as I can remember picking and we’ve had quite a few complicated ones.’
One player who is struggling to prove his fitness is Shaw, who has been suffering with a thigh problem and has not played since February.
The left-back is in the squad as England are pretty thin on the ground in that position, but Southgate admits he is unlikely to return to fitness in time to make the final cut.
‘I have to say he’s up against it,’ said Southgate of Shaw. ‘He’s missed a lot of football. The fact he’s been our first choice in that position, we’re probably giving him longer than we might have done.
Harry Kane has been suffering with a back problem but is expected to be fine (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I’m not sure what’s realistic at this moment in time. I’ve talked with him, the medical team are liaising with Manchester United very closely, but I’d have to say he’s a long shot.’
Southgate did not go into detail on any other players in terms of their fitness issues, but did say there are plenty of problems being nursed.
‘There are a significant number,’ he said. ‘We’ve got an important physical challenge in that some players are going to need a bit more work. That we’ve got to make sure ew push at the right times and give them the minutes that they need in the games. Other players don’t need much at all and need refreshing.
‘We’ve never had so many unknown situations. We’ve had tournaments where we’ve taken a player where we know they will be back for a certain moment of the tournament. We’re used to dealing with it. The key is making the best possible decisions.’
England’s provisional squad for Euro 2024
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), James Trafford (Burnley)
Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Man City)
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
England have friendlies against Bosnia (3 June) and Iceland (7 June), with players struggling for fitness likely to need to prove themselves in those contests.
The likes of Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Harry Maguire have all been out of action recently, but are expected to be fit for the upcoming friendlies.
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