GARETH SOUTHGATE has named his seven-man Euro 2024 axe list.
But for one England star, the dream may not yet be over.
Gareth Southgate axed the centre-back – but put him in the squad for Friday’s friendly with Iceland and on STANDBY for the finals.
Injured Harry Maguire and Everton’s £80million-rated Jarrad Branthwaite might be seen as the biggest names omitted from his defensive options.
But when asked if anyone would be on standby for the Euros, Southgate singled out a player who has made just 17 Premier League games.
He said: “Jarell Quansah has stayed with us.
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“I think he’s not had the experience of an England international at Wembley.
“So I think that would be great for him to be with us for the game.”
Southgate admitted it was agony reducing his 33-man squad to 26.
Manchester United ace Maguire is “devastated” to be out with a calf issue that denied him a place in last month’s FA Cup final win over Man City.
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Southgate said: “Trent [Alexander-Arnold] can play play in defence and I think we have nine defenders.
“Harry has made some progress but it’s been complicated, we definitely wouldn’t have had him for the group stages.”
In contrast, Southgate was confident enough in the recovery of Maguire’s club-mate Luke Shaw to keep the left-back in his reduced squad.
He explained: “He’s progressed really well in the last couple of weeks.
“At the moment we think he could have some involvement in the second group game.
” I think you can take one gamble and that’s a gamble, we’ve got enough evidence to believe it can pay off.”
Meanwhile, Quansah will be anxiously hoping for his senior Three Lions debut against Iceland.
He only picked up his first league experience in January 2023 with a loan debut for Bristol Rovers in league One.
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Then came his England Under-20 bow two months later and his U21 introduction in October 2023.
But he had a superb breakthrough season with Liverpool in 2023-24.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
