Problems pile up for Southgate as Guehi has knee operation

ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 problems mounted yesterday when Mail Sport revealed Marc Guehi had been forced to have knee surgery. The Crystal Palace defender is expected to be out for six to eight weeks, so he will miss next month’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.

Southgate also has concerns over Manchester City winger Jack Grealish amid a loss of form and a groin injury suffered against Luton on Tuesday night. Manchester United defender Luke Shaw and Chelsea full back Reece James will miss the friendlies, England’s final games before Southgate selects his squad for the Euros, and are doubts for the tournament. Aston Villa centre back Ezri Konsa, who was named in the previous squad, is currently out injured. But it was the news regarding Guehi that hit hardest, with the defender, who was pushing for a starting role in Germany, now facing a race against time to prove his fitness for the tournament.

The 23-year-old suffered complications to a knee hyperextension injury he picked up at Brighton on February 3. Guehi saw a specialist in London on Tuesday and was operated on yesterday morning. The operation is said to be routine, with a view to ‘cleaning’ the joint. If Guehi’s rehabilitation goes according to plan, he should play in the final games of Palace’s season, which would provide the defender with an opportunity to prove his fitness to Southgate.

There is better news on the fitness of Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, who is pushing hard for a recall, with the forward expected to have shaken off a knee problem by the time the next squad is announced on March 14.