Greenwood facing Euro heartbreak
SOUTHGATE BACKS U21 CALL
MASON GREENWOOD is on course for Euros heartbreak with England’s seniors after being included in the Under-21 squad instead.
The Manchester United striker will return to international duty for the first time since his Iceland episode.
But it will be with Aidy Boothroyd’s squad for this month’s U21 European Championship group games in Slovenia against Switzerland, Portugal and Croatia.
Greenwood was axed by manager Gareth Southgate in September along with Phil Foden after being caught smuggling women into the team hotel in Reykjavik. And while Foden returned to the side in November, Greenwood has remained exiled.
The knockout phase of the U21 tournament is scheduled for May 31 to June 6. And Greenwood’s inclusion in Boothroyd’s squad is a clear sign he will not be considered for the senior side in the summer, barring an injury crisis, as Southgate plots his assault on the delayed Euro 2020.
Southgate gave Boothroyd permission to pick Greenwood, 19, who has been told he still has a lot to prove as he continues his rehabilitation. Boothroyd said: “Has he got something to prove? Every time he gets on the pitch there is an expectation of him because he’s a very good young player.
“But he is young, he needs guidance and help. I’ll see how he is and see how we can get the most out of him. “We’re really looking forward to seeing what he can do.” Boothroyd believes the U21 set-up is the best place for Greenwood to be and that his six-month international exile will have done him good.
He said: “We just felt as an organisation that Mason is going to be a key player in the future and we wanted to know what it’s like to be at a tournament. “That period of time has done him the world of good.
“It is a line in the sand but, until he gets on the pitch and shows what he’s all about, we’re going to be asked questions about him. “We all make mistakes. I don’t think there will be any issues in getting Mason integrated back with us.” Greenwood has scored four goals in 37 appearances for United this season and Scott McTominay has ordered him to keep up the impressive standards he showed in Sunday’s 1-0 win over West Ham. He said: “Mason was brilliant. He was so direct, very confident whenever he had the ball and as I say every week, ‘Mason, now that’s the benchmark’.”