Gareth Southgate has been on a chopping spree with his axe of destiny even before England take to the field at Wembley tomorrow night.
The Three Lions boss had to cut seven players from his 33-man squad before Friday night’s midnight deadline to confirm his squad for Euro 2024.
Earlier today we reported that former Newcastle United target James Maddison had been sent home along with Liverpool pair Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones leaving four more to be axed.
It now looks like Southgate has made his decision and a couple of big names won’t be in Germany to represent England this summer.
Miggy will be in Copa America action this summer while Grealish is at home playing EAFC 24
£100million man Jack Grealish, the man who saved Miguel Almiron’s career, has been told he will not be joining Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon in Germany as the Toon duo survived the cut.
Manchester United’s England mainstay Harry Maguire couldn’t shake off his calf injury in time to prove to Southgate he was fit for the tournament so he will miss out too.
Burnley goalkeeper, currently linked with a move to Newcastle, James Trafford is also heading home as is Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton, which of the seven is the strangest call of all.
Southgate was always going to axe a goalkeeper from the squad and it always looked likely to be Trafford. Grealish and Maddison’s club form has been trousers recently so it makes sense that they don’t go and if Maguire is injured then that makes sense too. Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah … meh, who cares?
But Branthwaite has been sensational despite being part of an awful Everton side, and it’s not as if the crop of defenders Southgate has at his disposal is anything to write home about. Personally, I’d have taken Branthwaite and left Lewis Dunk at home, but I’m not the one getting paid to make the big calls.
At least it looks like Anthony Gordon is going, and there’s not a player on that plane who deserves it more this season … other than like, Jude Bellingham and maybe Cole Palmer if we take our Chelsea-hating goggles off for a second.
