‘Difficult decision’ to leave out experienced pair – Southgate

GARETH Southgate says leaving Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson out of England’s provisional Euro 2024 squad were “difficult decisions” he had to make.

The national team boss named a 33-strong training group yesterday that will be cut to 26 on June 7.

Rashford – who has been to the last four major tournaments – and vice-captain Henderson, who is a veteran of six tournaments, were the most high-profile omissions.

Put to Southgate it must have been difficult to leave out the pair, he told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Yeah, of course because the number of big games they’ve been involved with, the important performances they’ve put in.

“Your heart, of course, wants you to take all of those players that have been with you for so long. But ever since I took over, you have to make difficult decisions and you have to keep evolving the squad.

“And when players in those positions are playing well and have perhaps had better seasons than those guys, then they’re the decisions that you have to make.”

The group includes five uncapped players – Curtis Jones, Crystal

Palace, Adam Wharton, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Trafford.

ENGLAND’S PROVISIONAL EURO 2024 SQUAD Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, James Trafford.

Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite, Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Harry Maguire, Jarell Quansah, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Adam Wharton.

Forwards: Jude Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins.