Southgate faces left-back crisis
If there is one area of Southgate’s squad list that almost reads like a cry for help, it is at left-back, which looks like a serious problem ahead of Euro 2024.
Luke Shaw is the undisputed first choice when fit but to say Southgate sounded downbeat about his chances of making the tournament would be a masterpiece of understatement.
He has not played for England this season, has been out for Manchester United since sustaining a hamstring injury at Luton Town in February and recently suffered a setback.
It left Southgate to admit: “He’s up against it. He’s missed a lot of football. I’m not sure what’s realistic at this time but I have to say he’s a long shot.”
Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell has also had his injury problems and was poor in the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, meaning he has been left out of the squad.
The cupboard is bare so will Southgate turn to his tried and trusted Kieran Trippier, who is 33 and has had injury problems of his own at Newcastle United, or Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, who can play at left-back but is not a specialist?
The situation, to say the least, is not ideal.
Southgate squad exposes defensive woes
Gareth Southgate has named 11 defenders in his 33-man list that will be reduced to 26 before the England squad leaves for Germany.
This alone illustrates the problems Southgate must sift through, and quickly, before he finalises that group he hopes will end the wait for a major men’s trophy stretching back to the 1966 World Cup win.
It explains the presence of a gifted group of young defenders, led by Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Liverpool youngster Jarell Quansah, alongside the more established names.
Southgate’s trusted central defensive pairing of Manchester City’s John Stones and Harry Maguire of Manchester United have both had problems this season with either fitness or form – and in the latter’s case both.
This means Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa, who had an outstanding campaign as Aston Villa reached the Champions League, are in the mix.
It will be odds-on that Stones and Maguire will start together in the first Euro 2024 match against Serbia on 16 June if fit, but Southgate can take nothing for granted.
On injuries, Southgate admitted: “There are a significant number. That will be apparent with the players who missed the last games of the season and those who have just come back. I’ve never known so many unknown injury situations.”
Southgate also confirmed he had not spoken to Arsenal’s Ben White about his availability – again something he has got right as it has to be down to the defender to contact the manager personally after withdrawing from England contention, not the other way around.
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