Jack Grealish might not make it to Euro 2024 with the Three Lions, as Gareth Southgate provided a concerning update on the Manchester City star.
Despite cutting his holidays short to join the England squad early, Grealish has faced a tough season with Manchester City.
His struggles were highlighted by his limited playtime, including being benched during the FA Cup final and starting only one of the last seven Premier League matches.
This inconsistency has cast doubt on his place in the England squad.
Speaking to reporters, Southgate said: “We think we know who the best have been across the season, but what we don’t totally know is how many we need to take or how many we can allow ourselves to take because of the cover we might need in other positions as well.
“It’s obvious this season he [Grealish] has not played as much as last season. I’m sure he would have liked that to be different but we know the qualities he can bring and the qualities he has.
He is a player we enjoy working with and a character we enjoy having within the group.
We know where we’re likely to be. It’s hard to be quite so specific because we keep sitting down and saying: ‘Okay, if it’s this or this’. Then somebody else in the room says, ‘What if we lose that player?’”
Gareth Southgate will be without several key players for the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park, as injuries have sidelined Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, and Bukayo Saka. Additionally, John Stones will be absent as he joined the squad late following the FA Cup final.
When questioned about Maguire’s availability for the Euro 2024 opener against Serbia on June 16 in Gelsenkirchen, Southgate’s response was cautious: “We don’t know that at the moment”.
Southgate’s approach to injury assessments is pragmatic and rooted in experience.
He candidly expressed his scepticism about players’ self-reports on their fitness and assured that his final decision will be driven by medical reports and will rely minimally on the player’s account.
“They’re lying buggers, really!” he said. “If you’re in a relegation battle, the treatment room is absolutely full. If you’re in a cup final, it’s empty. I’ve learned that from being here [at Middlesbrough] and playing cup finals as well.
“They have great intentions and are super positive, but equally, they want to be on the plane so they have got to have a more in-depth view than that. I’ll consult the players as little as possible,” said Gareth Southgate.
The urgency of Southgate’s task is heightened by the impending deadline to finalise his squad of 26 players by Saturday, meaning seven players will face the disappointment of missing out on the trip of Germany.
This critical selection process highlights the intense pressure on Southgate and his team as they aim to strike a balance between experience, fitness, and form in their selections.
While Grealish’s talent and flair are evident, his recent performance and fitness levels have raised concerns.