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Gareth Southgate makes England squad announcement for Malta and North Macedonia games

Gareth Southgate makes the latest England squad announcement for upcoming Euro qualifier games against Malta and North Macedonia.

Despite the Three lions already qualifying for Euro 2024, Southgate is expected to name a strong squad for their final group matches.

But there have been some injury worries relating to Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, James Maddison and John Stones.

Raheem Sterling and Reece James hoped to their places back ahead of next summer’s Euros, while Anthony Gordon is also watching on with interest hoping he can get an England debut after impressive performances for Newcastle.

BBC Sport have also named Curtis Jones, Ben White, Eberechi Eze, Eddie Nketiah, Ezri Konsa as possible additions into the senior squad. Have any of them made the cut? Lets take a look…

ENGLAND SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)

Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett: “Gareth Southgate will tell his England regulars he expects them to make themselves available for the Euro Qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia even though qualification for next summer’s tournament is already guaranteed.

“England need six points from these two matches to guarantee they will be in Pot 1 in next month’s finals draw in Hamburg.

“Because hosts Germany are guaranteed to be one of the six top seeds, only five other spots remain, with those allocated by most points won in qualifying, rather than simply finishing top of your qualifying group.

“As a result, Southgate won’t accept any of his senior players withdrawing with minor knocks – especially as this is one of only two England training camps before he has to name his Euros squad.”

England manager Gareth Southgate on relationship with Sterling: “The door is 100 per cent open, not only for Raheem but other players that aren’t in the squad.

“We don’t need to know about his quality and personality. He’s a crucial part of why we’ve had the journey we’ve had over the last few years.

“The squad is playing really well and we had an exceptional win against Italy last time out. Who do we leave out?

“No [the relationship hasn’t broken down].”

Southgate on injury concerns: “We could lose one today after a scan. We could lose one tomorrow. We don’t really know.

“You’d be amazed how complicated picking a squad is because all clubs are sensitive to information.

“I can’t be certain that everyone in the squad will be there on Sunday night.

“Callum [Wilson] is probably the biggest doubt.”

Southgate adds: “There’s also Ivan Toney and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who’s starting to get games again. There is competition.

“I said to Eddie [Nketiah] that, at the moment, we see Callum [Wilson] and Ollie [Watkins] slightly ahead of him, but he’s progressing really well.

“I don’t think his injury is a big problem.

“He’s left a positive impression with us. He’s not in at the moment but maybe that could change over the weekend.”

Southgate: Stones injury creates opportunity for other defenders

“It’s an area of the pitch where we’ve had a big turnover in the squad. 

“I’m really disappointed for John. He’s having a difficult time injury-wise at the moment but it gives other people an opportunity.

“We need to know a little bit more about a few other players in that area of the pitch.”

Southgate: We still have options at full-back

“There is [depth], I was hoping to call up Reece James but he doesn’t feel he’s quite ready.

“I understand that, he’s had a long path back from a number of injuries. He’s probably a bit cautious in that respect, but I can understand why.

“We have got options, but there aren’t perhaps the experienced options we might have in other areas of the pitch. 

“Some of the younger full-backs are doing well – Tino Livramento has done well in his games for Newcastle, but being with the U21s is the right thing for him at the moment as well.”

Southgate: Not many can fill Phillips’ shoes

“For any player that’s not playing football, it’s about their career. England is a consequence of club but you also want fulfilment. If you’re training every day, you want to play. 

“He’s playing with world-class players at his club so I completely understand why he’s not getting the games. 

“Between him, Pep [Guardiola] and Txiki [Begiristain] I’m sure they’ll discuss the best route forward.

“We know the quality of his play and he was our player of the year a couple of years ago. We’d like him to be in a better rhythm of playing but there aren’t many players who can play in his position at the level.”

Southgate: Rashford’s Man Utd issues nothing to do with me

 

“I’ve not spoken to him. He knows we love him. 

“He’s been exceptional in his last three starts with us so we’re really happy with him. 

“He enjoys his football with us so, for me, there’s nothing to discuss.

“What happens at his club is nothing to do with me.”

Southgate: Great to see Maguire in Man Utd’s team

“It’s great. I thought it might mean this was the first time I wouldn’t get a question about him.

“You want your players to be enjoying their club football and he’s battling for the team. I’m really pleased for him.”

Southgate: No message to send to Streling

“I’m not looking to send a message [to Sterling], it’s an area of the pitch where we have as much competition as anywhere.

“You look at Jarrod Bowen, seven goals this season, Anthony Gordon is playing very well at Newcastle, Cole Palmer is starting to play well.

“It’s a changing landscape there. When we first started, we didn’t really have any depth of wingers to play with wingers there. 

“We had Adam Lallana who was a different type of player, we had Marcus Rashford and Raheem, but without the ability to refresh the team – that’s why we played with wing-backs for a long period going into Russia.

“We now have a lot more depth there, probably more than any other position. I understand the questions, but that’s where we are.”

England manager Gareth Southgate on whether Ben White is available for selection: “I assume so. Ben has been very solid for Arsenal. He’s a different profile of full-back. He’s a centre-back playing at full-back really. He’s just behind a couple of others in our reckoning.

No [he’s been dropped because he left the World Cup early].

Southgate: VAR ruined Spurs-Chelsea as spectacle

“I was bored watching the game, I was at the ground and it kept stopping! 

“Never mind the players, what about the fans? The flip-side of that is that the decisions were all right in the end, I think.

“If that’s the purpose then fine, but it’s sucking the enjoyment out of goals, I think the ball in play was incredibly low even with 21 minutes of added time.

“I talked about VAR a month ago, there’s no point me going on about it again.”

On semi-automated offsides: “I’m not really bothered. 

“Let’s let linesmen put their flag up as they always did, if we want to give benefit of doubt to the forwards that’s fine – we’re looking for perfection in an imperfect world.

“There’ll always have to be decision-making, interpretation – so let’s just accept the referees’ and linesmen’s decisions and crack on with the game.”

 
 
 
 
 

NEW FRIENDLIES ANNOUNCED

England men’s senior team will welcome Brazil and Belgium to Wembley Stadium in March 2024.

The exciting double-header against two nations ranked alongside the Three Lions in the top five of FIFA ‘s world rankings will form an important part of preparation for UEFA EURO 2024.

Five-time World Cup winners Brazil will visit on Saturday 23 March (kick-off TBC), with the Red Devils of Belgium scheduled for Tuesday 26 March (7.45pm GMT).

Gareth Southgate said: “I’m happy to have two strong matches in March as we build towards the EURO finals. It is important we take every opportunity to test ourselves against top opposition.

“Before then, we have our last qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia coming up. Getting two positive results is essential if we are to make sure of being top seeds in the EURO draw next month. We can’t afford to think the job is done as there is still work to do, while every second for us together in camp counts if we are to give ourselves the best chance of success next summer.”

Fans reacted as Gareth Southgate makes the latest England squad announcement for Malta and North Macedonia games…

@OwenH04: Gordon 7 G+A in 11 games for the team that has the 2nd most goals scored, highest xG and the highest GD in the league but hey ho

@Fantasy5Jackpot: Still going in with Henderson and Phillips instead of someone like Ward Prowse is just crazy. What’s that guy gotta do?

@DadsThatTravel: Can’t believe still no Ward Prowse incredible really. Still sticking with Phillips who still hasn’t played

@oli_g17: Phillips and Henderson again, so surprising

@RyleyKennedo: Anthony Gordon robbed

@lxwiswya: It’s pretty clear that nobody else really has a chance to get in because it’s the same group of mates everytime

@nufcmanna: Honest question, what more can Gordon do? And why is Johnstone being picked over pope, not that it matters

@cpfc_sean: Good to see Marc and Sam still there 🦅

@BandanaSavos: I can’t see Ezri Konsa here? 🤔

@Evun_: 0 ambition once again, not trying new players like Gordon and keeping the same dated players is why we’ll never win a trophy again

@wrightyavfc: Where is Konsa?

@Hazzy7272: 9/10 of all of us could come up with a better squad than this 🤣 yesss ik it’s only against Malta and north Macedonia but still

@NobbyClarke82: While I rate Rashford he’s been gash this season. A disgrace Gordon isn’t in his place. Someone that positively affects games every time he laces his boots.

@beaumont04: Pope should be in squad again. Phillips and Henderson should be out. Phillips doesn’t even play for city.

@mucker80: An ideal opportunity to be a little experimental with squad selection as we’ve already qualified, and he picks the same old faces. For Christ sake! How Pope and Gordon haven’t been selected on this occasion is beyond me?!

@Sy081286: How Henderson keeps getting picked over Ward Prowse just baffles me

@JoeB_00: No Pope, no Branthwaite or Tarkowski, no Ben White, no Ward-Prowse, and no Gordon

@FOSTER_NUFC: Gordon and palmer absolutely robbed man

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