CONCERNED Gareth Southgate fears financial fair play rules could damage his European Championship hopes as stars face burnout from extra money-consuming friendlies.

Tottenham and Newcastle have an end-of-year tour to Australia ahead of the tournament, with James Maddison, Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon.

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After Saturday’s friendly against Brazil, England will play Belgium on Tuesday.

But boss Southgate is facing his worst injury crisis and Harry Kane looks set to miss both.

With fears that more Premier League teams will also head abroad in May, there are concerns that other stars will suffer injuries or fatigue.

Asked about Tottenham’s controversial match against Newcastle in Melbourne on May 22, Southgate said: “It’s going to happen more and more.

“Why? Financial Fair Play means that clubs must generate money.

We are in a bizarre world where there is more money in the game than ever before and yet everyone is trying to make more money.

“The normal way to do that is to play more games, so is that good news for us in terms of preparation? No.”

Kane, Jordan Henderson and Cole Palmer are absent on Saturday, while the battered Bukayo Saka returned to Arsenal.

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And Southgate added: “We have around 40 players and a third are not available for this match, which is the most ever.”

Kyle Walker will captain the Three Lions in Kane’s absence.

And Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney will have a chance to take the lead.

Kane has missed just one international in the last two and a half years – the 1-0 win over Australia in October.

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ENGLAND captain Harry Kane will miss Saturday’s friendly against Brazil – and Tuesday’s match with Belgium.

Kane will be at Wembley and is expected to fly back to Germany and continue his treatment after the friendly against the South Americans.

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He suffered an ankle injury after colliding with a post during Bayern Munich’s 5-2 win over Darmstadt last Saturday.

The 30-year-old has been training away from the team since reporting for international duty this week and will not be in danger in either of the friendlies.

Kyle Walker is likely to captain the Three Lions in Kane’s absence.

And Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney will get the chance to take the lead against Brazil.

Kane has missed just one international in the last two and a half years – the 1-0 win over Australia in October.

But he will not play for England again until the Euro 2024 warm-up matches with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in June.

England have already lost Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, who has returned to his club due to a minor muscle problem.

Gareth Southgate is expected to field a strong side against the Brazilians, including Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Phil Foden.

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On team news, Southgate said: “No Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson or Cole Palmer tomorrow.

‘I would say that Cole and Hendo have a better chance in Belgium than Harry. He would be extremely doubtful.”

Kane, 30, has had an excellent season despite Bayern’s domestic problems.

The eternal Bundesliga champion is ten points behind Bayer Leverkusen after 26 games.

However, the England captain has scored 31 times without missing a single game in the Bundesliga, and has scored a further six goals in eight Champions League games.

GARETH SOUTHGATE has broken his silence on speculation linking him with Manchester United.

The England boss, 53, has been mooted as a potential successor to Erik ten Hag should the Red Devils boss get the chance this summer.

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When asked about a possible move to Old Trafford, Southgate insisted his focus is solely on Euro 2024.

He said: ‘I’m definitely not going to talk to anyone else.

“I’ve never done that, I’ve been working for eight years and would never enjoy talking to anyone else while I have a job, so I don’t know if that answers your question.

“My focus is on the European Championships. If we had signed a contract here before, everyone would say: ‘Why are you signing a contract before the European Championship where you have to prove yourself?

“From my point of view there are two things. First of all, I’m the manager of England and I really only have one job: to try to deliver a European Championship.

“Obviously I have two important games this week.

“And the second thing is that Manchester United has a manager.

“I always find it completely disrespectful when there is speculation about a possible manager.

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“I am chairman of the LMA, so I don’t have time for that kind of thing.”

According to Air sportsMan Utd have not yet made a decision on Ten Hag’s future.

They add that the Red Devils continue to make plans for next season with the Dutchman at the helm.

Manchester City defender John Stones was asked whether he would prefer Southgate to stay in England rather than move to rivals Manchester United.

Stones said: “Personally I want him here, but it would be disrespectful to talk to a manager about a team if, in my view, it comes out of nowhere.”

EAGLE-EYED England fans saw what Harvey Elliot did while starring for the Under-21s.

Liverpool star Elliott played in the Three Lions Euro U21 qualifier against Azerbaijan earlier today.

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The 20-year-old put in an eye-catching performance to score goals either side of half-time in a 5-1 win, with Noni Madueke, Jaden Philogene and Archie Gray also getting on the scoresheet.

However, it was something the midfielder did with his kit that got fans on social media talking.

Elliott could be seen with his collar up, covering a St George’s flag on the back of the new kit collar unveiled by manufacturer Nike earlier this week.

Whether Elliott has turned up his collar in response to the change or as a preference for how he wants to wear the kit is unclear, although he has previously worn shirt collars up while playing for Blackburn.

Some fans unhappy with the shirt situation took to social media and were happy to see the kit being worn that way, with one saying: “I guess Harvey Elliott isn’t a fan of the new collar. Old school collar upwards.”

A second said: “Keep going Harvey.”

While a third said: “Good boy .”

Another fan suggested the Elliott wore his gear because “he’s just the type of guy who thinks it looks cool.”

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Other fans compared him to an iconic Manchester United player and said: “He thinks so [Eric] Canton.”

A second said: “Eric Cantona will be proud.”

The cross in question has sparked debate among fans due to a change in the color of the cross: from traditional red and white to red, blue, purple and pink.

Footie legends – including Peter Shilton, David Seaman and Harry Redknapp – were all unimpressed by the change, while some fans branded the change as “woke”.

Many were also upset by the astronomical £124.99 price tag on the men’s and women’s kit, while children’s tops fetched a slightly lower £119.

Nike said the change was a “playful update” that paid tribute to the 1966 training kit – to date the year England won its only major senior men’s tournament.

The FA has also stated that the kits will NOT be recalled.

English football’s governing body said: “The new England 2024 home kit features a number of design elements intended to pay tribute to the 1966 World Cup winning team.

“The colored piping on the cuffs is inspired by the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, and the same colors can also be found in the design on the back of the collar.

“It is not the first time that different colored St George’s-inspired designs have been used on England shirts.

“We are very proud of the red and white St. George’s cross, the English flag.

“We understand what it means to our fans, and how it unites and inspires, and it will be prominently displayed at Wembley tomorrow – as always – when England play Brazil.”

The Three Lions U21s will be back in action against Luxembourg on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate’s senior side will play Brazil at Wembley tomorrow before hosting Belgium next Tuesday.

Southgate has given three players, Kobbie Mainoo, Jarrad Branthwaite and Anthony Gordon, a first call-up.

A FORMER England star has claimed the new ‘woke’ Three Lions shirt is ‘erasing history’.

Brian Deane, who played as a forward from 1985 to 2006, called the design of the new kit “ridiculous”.

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The Three Lions comics were unveiled on Monday, with the traditional red cross changed to a navy blue, light blue and purple.

It is believed to be a nod to the 1966 World Cup winners’ training kit, which featured blue, red and purple.

But the change led to fans, pundits and legends calling the shirt ‘woke’, while calling on the manufacturer to return to the usual colours.

Brian, who won three caps for England, is the latest name to join the comic.

The ex-striker told The Sun: “Some people would say it’s just a minor detail, but personally I think there are some things that should just be left as they are.

“Sometimes when you try to progress and develop it doesn’t always suit everyone, and certainly from the perspective of someone like me who has played for England, the St. George’s Cross has always been red, and a lot of people from a older age The generation will take offense to that, and I can understand why.

“I don’t see why there is a need to change this. It’s almost like you’re trying to erase what things have been like in the past, and I don’t think it’s appropriate in this case.

“It’s very symbolic for a lot of people in this country and for whatever reason, branding or fashion, I don’t think it’s relevant and I think they scored an own goal to be honest.

“It’s just something that makes people feel like their rights are being eroded, and it’s quite inflammatory as you can see from the responses.”

However, Nike said the new new shirt and ‘woke’ cross will NOT be recalled by the FA – despite a huge backlash.

It is understood the flag change was the work of a Nike designer, but was also signed off by the FA.

And the FA insists the decision was made to “honor the classic 1966 training kit color scheme”.

The FA told The Sun: “The new England 2024 home kit features a number of design elements intended to pay tribute to the 1966 World Cup winning team.

“The colored piping on the cuffs is inspired by the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, and the same colors can also be found in the design on the back of the collar.

“It is not the first time that different colored St George’s-inspired designs have been used on England shirts.

“We are very proud of the red and white St. George’s cross, the English flag.

“We understand what it means to our fans, and how it unites and inspires, and it will be prominently displayed at Wembley tomorrow – as always – when England play Brazil.”

Earlier today, football legends including Harry Redknapp, Peter Shilton and David Seaman gave their thoughts on the saga.

Redknapp this morning branded the decision “an absolute disgrace”.

He said: “I’ve seen a lot of own goals in my time but this has to be the worst ever.

“Who the hell thought this was a good idea? It’s the cross of Saint George, red and white…would Nike do this with another country’s national flag?

“It’s something that should be respected, not changed for a bit of playful fun, as they say.

“I think it’s an absolute shame. I hope they understand it and think about it again.”

Former England goalkeeper Shilton has also had his say, announcing he was “completely against” the new shirt.

And Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also rejected the new equipment.

Meanwhile, former England goalkeeper Seaman, who played 75 times for his country, said “leave it alone”.

He said: “It doesn’t need to be fixed. What now? Are they going to turn the Three Lions into three cats? Leave it alone.

“It’s the St. George’s flag. Leave him alone. I’m sure if they had approached the boys and asked about it, they would have said no. Just leave him alone.’

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer called on Nike to change the color back to the traditional red.

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THE ENGLAND football team have made headlines of late with a new kit that has sown division among fans.

Even Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer joined calls for Nike to scrap the new kit, but what is all the fuss about?

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Will England get a new kit for Euro 2024 release date?

As the England football team prepare for European Championship glory, the kit they will wear on the battlefield has finally been revealed.

On social media, the English account posted a photo of the kits: “Our England. Our pride. Our family.

The men’s collection, which Gareth Southgate’s players will wear during this summer’s European Championship, will be released on March 21, while the women’s kits will go on sale in June.

The England men’s team are expected to debut the home kit when they play Brazil in a friendly on Saturday before hosting Belgium three days later.

The Lionesses’ next match is a Euro 2025 qualifier against Sweden at Wembley on April 5.

Some fans were excited about the news, calling the design an instant classic that is sure to bring football home this year.

While others have found the new kit to be “too woke” and “too expensive”.

How much does the New England kit cost?

Both the men’s and women’s competition shirts cost €124.99, while the children’s competition top costs a slightly lower price of €119.

If fans want something cheaper, they can opt for the stadium top, which costs £84.99, while the kids’ shirt costs £64.99.

Kids can also buy the full kit for £54.99, while baby kits currently cost £49.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Labour’s Keir Starmer criticized the prices and said they should be cut.

He said: ‘I’m not even sure they can properly explain why they thought they needed to change in the first place.

“They could also lower the price of the shirts.”

Why did Nike change the English flag?

Fans quickly noticed that the traditional red cross on the Three Lions kit has been changed to a cross of navy blue, light blue and purple.

It is believed to be a nod to the 1966 World Cup winners’ training kit, which featured blue, red and purple.

The change led to some calling the shirt “woke”, as they called on the manufacturer to return to the usual colours.

But according to The mailNike will not succumb to the pressure from some English fans.

A Nike spokesperson said: “The England 2024 home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic.

“The piping on the cuffs is inspired by the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, with a gradient of blue and red topped with purple.

“The same colors also feature an interpretation of the flag of St. George on the back of the collar.”

It is understood the flag change was the work of a Nike designer, but was also signed off by the FA.

And the FA insists the decision was made to “honor the classic 1966 training kit color scheme”.

Sir Keir told The Sun that the “flag is used by everyone, it is unifying and does not need to be changed”.

He said, “We should just be proud of it. So I think they should just rethink this and change it back.”

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Which kit will England wear?

The home kit is classic white with a blue collar and blue shorts.

Meanwhile, the second strip is all purple and is receiving high praise from fans.

Finally, the goalkeepers will appear between the sticks in striking orange jerseys.

Although some fans are baffled by the away kit, arguing that it is the new optical illusion of the “blue and black dress”.

Why is the England kit purple?

According to a statement from the England football team, the new match kit is inspired by old football legends.

The team said that “the striking purple color is a remix of red and blue from the past.”

So it looks like the team has decided to mix kits from the past, which were usually blue or red, to take the team into the future.

Many fans were excited about the look of the comics.

One said: “So this is what Kane will look like when he lifts the European Championship trophy this summer.”

While a second replied: “Omg we actually win it all.”

And a third said: “Honestly some of our best kit ever.”

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FANS say Gary Neville is “never wrong” after his England squad prediction came true.

The Three Lions take on Brazil at Wembley on Saturday before taking on Belgium on Tuesday.

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However, England boss Gareth Southgate will now have to make do without Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.

The 22-year-old arrived at camp with an injury and has now returned to the Gunners for rehabilitation ahead of his club’s upcoming title clash with Manchester City on March 31.

That’s a move that Manchester United and England legend Neville eerily predicted during the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky betwhich was filmed earlier this week.

He said: “I have a good feeling that Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice or Phil Foden will withdraw from the second match against England this break.”

Neville later added: “The Arsenal players may not withdraw from the games in England because they have had a few extra days of rest from not playing in the FA Cup.

“But there is a part of me that thinks they need to keep the momentum going and keep playing, especially when England have two games against strong opponents in Brazil and Belgium.

“I think Harry Kane might pull out the second game. He could play one game or make a deal.

“We refer to it because [Erling] Haaland and [Kevin] De Bruyne. I mentioned it a few weeks ago. I said there will be a withdrawal in March and straight away the two best players for City are out.”

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Although Neville had predicted it would be the Belgium game that one of the Gunners’ big hitters would miss, fans were still impressed by how right he was.

One person posted on

“He knows ALL the tricks in the handbook for winning title races.”

Another wrote: “He’s been seen there 100 times. No one knows title races better than this man.”

While a third added: “He’s never wrong is he.”

Saka is not the only Arsenal player who will not be present in the match against England on Saturday. Gunners defender Gabriel has also withdrawn from the Brazil squad.

Neville was part of Roy Hodgson’s England staff for a number of years and explained why the March international break was always difficult.

He added: “Obviously I coached with Roy Hodgson for four years and when players pulled out knowing they were probably not injured you were furious. But that also happened during our lifetime.

“The clubs think: ‘We’re playing against the players, we’re having a clash and we can’t afford to lose them.’ “We have Champions League football and that’s huge for us. Or we get a title, quarter-finals or semi-finals of the Champions League.” And that’s why there is that push and pull.

“This friendly match in March is a bad one. It’s during a title run and Champions League games.

“As far as I’m concerned, this should be played again somewhere, because you’re really thinking about ‘club’ and not country.

“Country starts in about May, when the season is over and you have a tournament.”

HARRY MAGUIRE says England stars want Gareth Southgate to stay out of the Euros.

Southgate is expected to retire after his fourth major tournament in Germany this summer – with the Three Lions favorites set to win their first trophy since 1966.

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But despite Southgate, 53, being touted as the successor to Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, Maguire claims he would prefer to see him as his international rather than club manager.

Ahead of hosting Brazil tomorrow, defender Maguire said: “We want to be successful at the European Championship. We don’t watch the World Cup; the European Championship is our main goal.

“And if Gareth is the man who will make us successful, then we want him to stay as long as possible.

“He has the respect of the players and everyone who worked under him.

“It’s so tough being England boss. It is one of the most researched jobs in the world.

“All you can look at is where we were before he took over and where we are now. Everyone will say: ‘Yes, but we have better players now’.

“But in previous years we had great players and we were not successful.

“He deserves a lot of credit, he has helped us a long way.

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“If you speak to anyone they will speak highly of Gareth’s tactical management, but also his man-management.”

Southgate’s contract expires in December and will not discuss a new deal until after the European Championship.

But it is believed he would prefer a return to club management.

Maguire was a cornerstone of England’s defense as they reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 European Championship, before a quarter-final exit in Qatar in 2022.

But the United man added: “I’m sure Gareth will say the same thing now: ‘it’s all about winning a trophy’.”

Maguire, who has won 62 caps under Southgate, was backed by the Lions boss even as he struggled for game time at United.

He added: “The faith and trust he has shown in me has been brilliant.”

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford claims the players will not be swayed by speculation over Southgate’s future.

He said: “Our goal is to win the European Championship. All the noise around everything else comes after.”

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HARRY MAGUIRE knew Kobbie Mainoo had the wow factor when he first set eyes on his young teammate.

Now Maguire is determined to help the 18-year-old through the uniquely intense pressure that comes with playing for both Manchester United and England.

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The centre-back is adamant about playing in the goldfish bowl at Old Trafford, meaning United’s English players – such as Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and himself – are scrutinized more heavily than those from other clubs.

And that could serve as a warning for Mainoo as he enjoys a honeymoon period as an immensely talented United rookie celebrating his first call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

Maguire has emerged from a professional slump – when he was largely shut down by United boss Erik ten Hag – to re-establish himself as a regular starter for England and its most famous club.

And now he believes Mainoo has the chance to join him on the plane to Germany for this summer’s Euros.

Maguire said: “I have been a huge fan of Kobbie since he first started training with us.

“I remember talking to Tom Heaton about him and saying, ‘I feel like this kid has everything.’

“He handles the ball brilliantly. He is very strong and powerful, and you can see his progression to play that number 6 role, especially for United.

“The ‘six’ role is a huge responsibility and I am sure the positional part of his game will improve dramatically.

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“You have seen how much skill and talent he has, and he fully deserves his call-up. A role and responsibility for the senior players at Manchester United is bringing in players from the youth academy.

“The club has always been built on giving young people opportunities. Many of them train a lot with us, we try to make them feel welcome and we did that to Kobbie.”

Maguire compares Mainoo to Jude Bellingham – who made his Three Lions debut at the age of 17 – in terms of his remarkable maturity.

The United defender said: “I wasn’t worried about Kobbie.

“It’s unbelievable that he’s only 18, he’s so mature. He looks a bit like Jude when he was a young boy. He has an adult head on his shoulders.

“I see his capabilities in training day in, day out. I congratulated him, he absolutely deserves this. He has been excellent for us this season.”

When asked if Mainoo could be part of England’s European Championship team, Maguire replied: “I don’t see why not.

“To play in a big tournament it is important to have experience, but also the young people come in and sometimes they play without fear and can excel.

“We have a lot of good centres, players who have shown they can do it in big tournaments.

“He will continue to work hard, I’m sure, because he is a great boy. And we’ll see where it goes.”

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Maguire’s own place in England has been the subject of debate for years, with Southgate remaining loyal to the 31-year-old, who is expected to win his 63rd cap against Brazil on Saturday evening.

Last autumn, as Maguire emerged from United’s first team, he scored an own goal in a 3-1 win over Scotland while facing dog abuse from the crowd at Hampden Park.

At the time it seemed unlikely he could force his way into Ten Hag’s United plans and prove himself as England’s first-choice player at the European Championship, but the Yorkshireman has since turned his form around.

However, Maguire believes being a United player has increased the spotlight.

He said: “Different clubs have different levels of control and that is a big aspect when fans see Gareth choosing a squad.

“I could have played for Leicester and had one bad game, six good ones, a couple of bad ones, and everyone would think I’m in great form.

“When I do that for Manchester United, it doesn’t happen like that.

“Fans see the control. Every goal we concede is analyzed and that’s the pressure of playing for United.

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“You see it a lot in careers in England. You keep building up and then you have to maintain that level to stay there, otherwise you get knocked out pretty quickly.

“Everything you do when you play for a big club is analyzed.

“Every player who has played for United and England has had a time when people have not been happy.

“Beckham had a lot, even Wayne Rooney had said a lot and he was one of the best players to ever play for his country.

‘Wayne has experienced times when he was criticized. But it’s part of playing for such a historic club. I wouldn’t change it.”

Maguire thanked Southgate for showing faith in him during difficult times but claims his England form merited his continued inclusion even if he was not a United regular.

He said: “There are a lot of people now who probably don’t think I should be in the squad. There are millions of people who think I should be.

“But given the way I have played for my country in previous tournaments and matches, the fact that I didn’t play for my club as regularly as I should for six months shouldn’t really be a guarantee that I won’t be included in a squad included. Because when I did play for my club, country, I performed well.”

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MEET the mysterious English star who made his debut at the “new” Wembley.

Nicky Shorey is not a name that has entered English folklore.

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However, a case can certainly be made that he has a claim to such a title as he was one of the Three Lions starting XI that started the match when Wembley returned to the international stage.

Shorey had impressed for Reading in the 2007 season, leading to fans creating a ‘Shorey for England’ chant for him, which eventually led to him being called up by England B.

An impressive performance from the left-back against Albania in that game led to suggestions he could make the step up to the first team.

And in May 2007, Shorey was called up by Steve McLaren for the new Wembley debut against Brazil.

In doing so, he made history as Reading’s first player in 100 years to play for the senior national team.

He played for the duration of the 1-1 draw, with John Terry curling in a header from David Beckham’s free-kick before Diego equalized for the Samba nation in the 90th minute.

However, Shorey failed to secure a place in the team and only made one more appearance for England, playing against Germany in August 2007.

Reflecting on his England selection against Brazil, Shorey told the Three Lions podcast in 2020: “Yes, it still seems a bit surreal now.

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“It was even more surreal at the time because we had literally just been promoted from Reading and had only been in the Premier League for one season.

“And when you get a cap as a left-back in the era of Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge, it’s very difficult.

“You have to be a bit lucky and luckily I think they both got injured. It just came at a time when I was playing really well and we had done really well in Reading.

“You never quite think it’s going to happen until you actually get the call and someone says, listen, you’re on the team.”

Shorey – who could play in midfield or as a wing-back – played for Reading between 2000 and 2008, making 296 appearances.

The now 43-year-old also played for Aston Villa, Fulham and West Brom in the Premier League before returning to Reading in the 2012/2013 season.

Shorey went on to play for Bristol City, Portsmouth, Colchester United and Hungerford Town before hanging up his boots in 2017.

There was even a brief stint in the Indian Super League with Pune City, making fifteen appearances.

England are preparing for a repeat of Shorey’s debut match on Saturday, which could see as many as three players make their international debuts.

Jarrad Branthwaite, Anthony Gordon and Kobbie Mainoo – who was only promoted after the weekend – are all set to make their debuts during the international break after being called up by Gareth Southgate.