GARETH SOUTHGATE’s depleted England squad trained at St George’s Park on Monday ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy.
The Three Lions will face the reigning European champions in Naples on Thursday night in the first of their qualifiers for next summer’s tournament in Germany.
And they took part in one of their final training sessions before jetting off to Campania for their clash with the Azzurri – who pipped them to glory in the final of Euro 2020.
Southgate oversaw a somewhat light training session at St George’s Park, in which the players were all smiles for large parts.
The former England international held court several times during the session as he instructed his troops on the game plan for Thursday’s match at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
In addition to their work on the pitch, the Prem stars also worked out in the gym – although the session didn’t seem to be too gruelling.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Three Lions chief Southgate named his squad for their qualifiers with Italy and Ukraine last week.
But THREE stars have been forced to withdraw ahead of Thursday’s trip to Italy.
Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and Nick Pope have all pulled out of the squad due to injury.
Manchester United hitman Rashford picked up a knock in the Red Devils’ FA Cup quarter-final victory over Fulham on Sunday.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
Newcastle stopper Pope, meanwhile, was struck down by injury in Newcastle’s win over Nottingham Forest on Friday.
And Chelsea ace Mount will remain in London as he’s still recovering from a bruised pelvis.
Southampton keeper Fraser Forster has been brought in to replace Pope, although Southgate has opted not to bring in replacements for Rashford and Mount.
Prior to their withdrawals, Southgate said of the qualifiers coming soon after the World Cup: “That is the big challenge we have got.
“To go to a World Cup, everyone wanted to be there and the fight for places was immense, the hunger was there and it was clear. Now you have to start again.
“I know exactly where our most senior players are with that challenge: they are ready.
“The [Jordan] Hendersons, the [Harry] Kanes, they set the tone for that sort of mentality that is going to be needed.
“We have basically a couple of days on the training pitch to prepare for a humdinger of a game in Naples so we have got to makes sure we are ready for that but I think the players will be ready for that.
Read More on The Sun
“I know we are as a group of staff and it is a good test for us.
“These are the sorts of games where we have to show we can go to these places and win. That is the next step for us as a team.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
