by Gareth Southgate is facing the worst injury crisis of his seven-and-a-half-year tenure as England manager and has said Harry Kane is unlikely to play during the international break.
England’s preparations for Euro 2024 take a step forward when they host Brazil and Belgium at Wembley, but fitness concerns mean they cannot name their strongest XI. Southgate, who has been embroiled in controversy over Nike designing a colorful St George’s Cross flag on the new kit, was unable to name many key players in his squad last week and his selection problems are mounting ahead of Sunday night’s friendly Saturday against Brazil.
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The defense was the main area of concern, with Reece James, Luke Shaw, Levi Colwill and Kieran Trippier available, but other positions are starting to be torn up. Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson is out of the Brazil game with gaps in attack. Bukayo Saka left camp with a muscle problem, Cole Palmer faces a battle to be fit for the Belgium game and Kane is struggling with an ankle injury.
The situation is hardly ideal for Southgate as this is England’s final camp before June. He deemed Kane’s chances of playing against Belgium “highly doubtful” and considered whether the increased demands on players is affecting availability.
“Everyone wants simple solutions to complex problems,” he said. “Some players have just been unfortunate. Kane’s injury was when he crashed into the net at the weekend and has forced the mechanism with his ankle. He is on winter break and is not playing in our league.
“Some players had injuries, maybe some of them had played too many games too soon after coming back from injuries. The intensity of the games could be a factor. Games may feature extra minutes. We obviously have a long list of 40 players and a third are not available for tomorrow’s game, which is our highest number ever.”
Southgate focused on clubs going on post-season tours. Some of his players will fly away when Newcastle and Tottenham face Australia for a friendly three days after the end of the Premier League season.
“It’s going to happen more and more,” Southgate said. “Why? Financial fairness means that clubs must generate their own money. The usual way to do that is to play more games, so that’s great news for us in terms of preparation? No.
“But we’ll probably have players in the FA Cup, the Champions League final hopefully and a chance at a couple of other European finals. We are used to preparing in this way. We had to go to Qatar for five days of preparation.”
Henderson’s place in midfield could be taken by Conor Gallagher, although there is fresh competition from Kobbie Mainoo. The 18-year-old Manchester United midfielder earned his first call-up this week.
“We like him as a player,” Southgate said. “We were mindful of his age. With any young player, you want to make those steps at the right time. But with the problems we’ve had with Hendo this week as well, he’s next. It really affected us.”
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The traditional red and white flag prompted Southgate to redesign England’s new shirt collar, which costs up to £124.99. Nike and the Football Association have been heavily criticized for the pricing and colors of the flag.
“In my opinion if it’s not white with a red cross it’s not a St George’s flag,” Southgate said. “Whatever it is, it’s an unusual design element that could be done by Banksy or Reuben Dangoor, I think. The most important thing on the England shirt really is the Three Lions. I am a huge patriot. I believe we should celebrate George’s Day more than we do.
“People don’t think we should change the St. George flag … if it’s changed it’s not the St. George flag.
“I’m a bit lost with that element. They can put together a strange design but you can’t tell it’s the St. George flag because it’s not. It’s something else.”
Southgate, whose contract expires in December, refused to discuss claims he could replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United this summer and reiterated that he will not make a decision on his future until after the Euros.
“I’m the England manager,” he said. “I have one job: to try to deliver the European Championship. Manchester United has a manager and talking about speculation is disrespectful. I am the president of the LMA. I have nothing to say.”
Southgate added. “If we did something, a contract, here before everyone was saying, ‘why are you signing a contract before Euros that you have to prove yourself?’ I’m definitely not going to talk to anyone else ahead of that. I never had. I have eight years in the job. I don’t mind talking to anyone else when I’m on the job.”
