Southgate names four stars who could take the England spots from Rashford and Grealish
GARETH SOUTHGATE has warned failed Manchester duo Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish that their participation in Euro 2024 is not guaranteed.
Not with the in-form Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon breathing down their necks next one friendly matches against Brazil and Belgium.
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Manchester United star Rashford, 26, has scored just seven goals for his club in a poor season which also saw him call in sick for training in January after his infamous Belfast match.
And City wideman Grealish, 28, has had a torrid time in terms of form and injuries, scoring just three times.
A groin injury has ruled him out of the England selection for this international break.
Meanwhile, the red-hot Bowen, 27, has a total of 18 goals for West Ham this season matcheswith team newbie Gordon, 23, finding the net ten times for Newcastle.
Speaking about Rashford, who takes on Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals today, Three Lions chief Southgate said: “He has a battle on his hands with Gordon, with [Cole] Palmer, met [Phil] Foden. He has great competition. This also applies to Jac.
“These guys are playing well. Gordon, Bowen… they score regularly, they perform well for the team, they defend well, they work hard, they compete and we have very good options in that area of the pitch.
“I can’t guarantee anyone [a spot at the Euros].
“We know what Marcus can bring, but everyone has to perform well between now and the end of the season.”
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Rashford hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons two months ago after missing United training while on a tequila-fueled binge in Northern Ireland. next one day.
His goalscoring form has improved of late, with five goals in 11 games, but the jury is still out with many fans on whether Southgate should take him to Germany this season. summer.
The England boss added: “What happens while players are at their clubs is club business because they know the full story.
“Of course we observe everything, we don’t miss anything.
“I’m not saying off-field behavior is irrelevant, because it clearly isn’t.
“But the most important thing is that we focus on performance on the field.”
This gives Southgate a real selection headache summer as he can only choose 23 players for the euros.
A spate of injuries to the likes of Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Luke Shaw, Marc Guehi and more has created opportunities for others to impress in the friendlies at Wembley. next one nine days.
Those players include Gordon and fellow rookie Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, with Southgate urging the pair to seize their opportunity.
The 53-year-old manager added: “The opportunity is there for people in this camp. If you are inside, you have the chance to stay inside.
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“We are in the realm of competitive sport that you have to grow into the challenge and accept competition for places, but that is healthy. It should promote performance.”
One man Southgate hinted he would have selected for the first time had it not been for an injury is Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, 23, who is currently sidelined with an ankle problem.
Southgate revealed: “He was definitely someone we followed closely prior to his injury.
“He has performed consistently well. We were without a doubt very excited about his performance.”
Meanwhile, Mason Mount’s European Championship dream appears to be over after his torrid first season at Old Trafford following his £55million move from Chelsea.
The 25-year-old midfielder could be in the Red Devils selection for the first time since November after a calf injury.
Mount has 36 England caps and was previously one of Southgate’s favorite players.
Southgate added: “The first step for him is to start playing regularly for Manchester United again.
“He’s had the best part of fifteen months because the end of Chelsea he did not play with the injury. He has to find the fitness, the sharpness.
“We know what he is capable of, but at the moment you would have to say he is an outsider. I think he would accept that.”