Gareth Southgate has warned Marcus Rashford his place in England’s Euro 2024 squad is by no means guaranteed, with stiff competition looming from the next generation of wide attackers.
Rashford has been back in the England fold, when fit, since being recalled for the 2022 World Cup after a year-long absence. His domestic form has been patchy, though, while he was disciplined by Manchester United in January after allegedly partying in Belfast and subsequently missing training. Southgate played that incident down but made clear that Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon, both called up for the friendlies against Brazil next Saturday and Belgium three days later, are serious threats for the berth Rashford covets.
England find themselves generously stocked on the wings. Phil Foden is favourite to start on the left in Germany this summer, with Rashford and the currently injured Jack Grealish favourites to deputise. Rashford and Foden have also operated on alternate flanks to good effect. But the new brood are turning up the heat and Southgate emphasised none of the older heads should feel secure.
“He has a battle on his hands with Gordon, with Palmer, with Foden, so we’ve got big competition for places in that area,” Southgate said of Rashford. “What happens while players are with their clubs is club matters, because they know the full story. Obviously, we observe everything, we don’t miss anything. I don’t say behaviours off the field are irrelevant, because clearly they’re not. But the key thing is we are mainly focusing on the performances on the field. He’s got big competition. So has Jack.”
Gordon has been called up for the first time and Southgate namechecked the in-form Newcastle forward and Jarrod Bowen as examples of players whose work rates are attractive. Rashford has received heavy criticism from some quarters for a perceived lack of effort off the ball. “These guys are playing well: Gordon, Bowen, they’re scoring regularly, they perform well for the team, they defend well, they work hard, they compete and we’ve got really good options,” Southgate said.
“I can’t guarantee anybody. We know in certain positions who our best players might be – Kalvin Phillips [who was not selected] I think is still in that position, but at this minute, I can’t go with that, so I’m hoping he can hit that form. We know what Marcus can bring to us but equally everybody has got to perform well between now and the end of the season. That’s the environment we’re in.”
Newcastle have endured an inconsistent campaign but, with 10 goals, Gordon has provided a shining light. “I like the way he competes, he’s aggressive with the ball and positive,” Southgate said. “He has quality, he can retain the ball under pressure; he’s quick, speed is something that frightens full-backs and he has that. And he scores goals: he’s added that little bit more consistency to his goalscoring in the last couple of years.”
Southgate is also looking to the future of England’s defence. He has given the Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite his senior bow and it is among the reasons that Eric Dier was not recalled. Dier has not played for the national team since September 2022 but may start for Bayern Munich against his old foes Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals. Southgate was hardly effusive about his prospects of a summer return but hinted one piece of unfinished business may be addressed in future.
“It’s good to see Eric playing: it’s a great move for him, playing for such a big club,” he said. “He’s a player that, if we felt he was the best for that role, could slot easily back in ahead of the Euros.
“I think there is more value for us at the moment in looking at Branthwaite, who we haven’t worked with before, because we know about Eric. If Eric is playing well and better than all the others by the end of the season, we can bring him in. I’m also mindful he’s stuck on 49 caps and that’s nearly as uncomfortable for me, given what he’s given us, as it is for him.”
Southgate suggested the participation of Reece James, sidelined since November with a hamstring injury that required surgery, in the European Championship will hinge on whether the Chelsea right-back can return in time to string a few late-season games together for his club. “We don’t have an exact date for him coming back but we’d hope he would have some games before the Euros,” he said. “Could he play seven games in the Euros? His record over the last few years would suggest no, but is he a top-level player who could provide something important? No question.”
