Sunderland Echo

Maguire included in England squad despite trial in Greece

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the Nations League finals last June.

City team-mate John Stones has been left out of the squad, but Raheem Sterling got the the nod despite questions over his availabili­ty.

There is no place for Callum Hudson-Odoi, Fikayo Tomori, Danny Rose and Callum Wilson having been in the squad to face Kosovo in

November, while Ross Barkley and Fabian Delph are also conspicuou­s by their absence.

Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlai­n, Ben Chilwell and James Maddison miss out through injury.

Southgate accepted it was a difficult decision over Maguire.

“Yes it is clearly a decision that is not straightfo­rward and a decision that in the end I could only take on the informatio­n I have,” the England manager told a press conference.

“I have spoken with Harry, I have the insight to the story which is very different to what is being reported.

"You can only make decisions on facts you are aware of.

“If facts or informatio­n changes I will have to review that decision, but I have a fantastic relationsh­ip with the boy, he has been a fantastic character for us – he has my support at this moment.

“I’m not going to get into hypothetic­als of what might happen, but I have got to reserve the right to review if further informatio­n becomes available.

“You always make decisions to the best of your ability given the informatio­n you have.

"People may agree or disagree with those decisions, but it is a position where every manger finds himself.

“Harry regrets the fact he has brought that sort of focus and attention to the team – he apologised for that – but also has his own side of the story.”

 ??  ?? England manager Gareth Southgate and Harry Maguire.
England manager Gareth Southgate and Harry Maguire.

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