Gareth Southgate has warned Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish that they must finish the season well to be in England’s squad for Euro 2024 this summer.
Rashford has had a difficult season with Manchester United, scoring just seven goals in 34 appearances in all competitions so far.
The Red Devils striker has been named in the Three Lions’ latest 25-man squad for their Euro 2024 warm-up friendlies against Brazil and Belgium during the March international break.
However, Southgate did not only give a warning to Rashford, Manchester City’s Grealish was also in the spotlight and the coach said that their position on the left wing of the England national team was threatened by several players.
Southgate continued that names such as Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, who are in good form, are ready to disrupt Rashford and Foden’s position.
“He [Rashford] has competition with Gordon, with [Cole] Palmer, with [Phil] Foden. So we have tight competition for places in those areas,” said Southgate.
“What happens when the players are with their clubs is the club’s business because they know the full story. They know exactly what happened.
“We look at everything. I’m not saying that behavior off the pitch is irrelevant because it certainly isn’t.”
The 53-year-old coach called up Newcastle star Anthony Gordon, while there were also calls for Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen.
“But the key is that we only focus on performances on the pitch. He has tough competition. Likewise with Jack [Grealish],” continued Southgate.
“These players are playing outstandingly. Gordon, Bowen, they score regularly, they perform well for the team, they defend well, they work hard, they compete and we have very good options.
Then, Southgate emphasized that until now he had not guaranteed a position for anyone in the England national team squad. He asked his team to show their best performance until the end of this season.
“I can’t guarantee anyone. We know in certain positions who our best player is. Kalvin Phillips I think is still in that position, but at the moment, I can’t say for sure, so I hope he can reach his best performance.
“We know what Marcus can give us, but all the players also have to perform well between now and the end of the season. That’s the situation we’re in.”
