Gareth Southgate gives update on whether injury-stricken Luke Shaw will feature in England’s opening Euro 2024 game against Serbia
- Gareth Southgate gave a positive update on his side’s fitness
- England take on Serbia in the opening match of Euro 2024 on Sunday afternoon
- Listen to It all starts! “I wouldn’t touch Nagelsmann with a barge!”
Gareth Southgate will make a late decision on whether Luke Shaw is fit enough to take his place on the England bench against Serbia, meaning Kieran Trippier will start the tournament opener at left-back.
Shaw, 28, has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in February and only returned to training earlier this week.
He is not yet ready to start and could still miss out on a place among the substitutes.
The Manchester United defender also faces a race against time on Thursday, playing from the start in the second group match against Denmark.
That could mean an extended stay in the squad for Trippier, who replaces the right-back and has previously played the position for his country.
Gareth Southgate has provided a positive update on Luke Shaw’s (mid) fitness after he returned to training earlier this week
Shaw has not played since February after the Manchester United defender suffered a hamstring injury
Southgate stated that his entire team had trained today ahead of England’s opening match against Serbia
Speaking at his pre-match media conference here in Gelsenkirchen, Southgate said: ‘We have to make a decision on whether Luke can potentially be used from the bench or not.’
Meanwhile, captain Harry Kane says the new Euro 2024 football – Fussballliebe – benefits strikers over goalkeepers, after Serbian star Dusan Vlahovic called his move ‘strange’.
Kane said: ‘I love the ball. It’s a good ball for attackers, it’s fast and if you hit it, it stays hit.
‘I had a different experience in the Bundesliga, and we have experience with the Adidas ball.
There was some concern about the fitness of England defender John Stones (centre) after he was confined to his room due to illness this week
Harry Kane (centre), meanwhile, believes the new Euro 2024 football will benefit attackers over defenders
The England boss also remained tight-lipped about how his England side would line up against Serbia on Sunday afternoon
‘For me personally it’s better for the attackers than for the goalkeepers – and I’m not going to complain about that!’
Vlahovic said: ‘It’s strange, not that he doesn’t react, it depends how you kick him. For now it listens to me, let it listen to me tomorrow and let it continue.”