Man Utd star set for axe from 33-man England squad, claims pundit
Danny Mills believes Mason Greenwood and Bukayo Sako are both heading for Euro 2020 disappointment when Gareth Southgate’s slims down his England squad.
Southgate named a heavy 33-man provisional squad on Tuesday after initially planning to name the official 26-man party. It’s understood injuries to some of his senior players meant he was keen to delay the official announcement. UEFA state that Southgate’s final squad must be named by June 1, meaning the Three Lions boss must lose seven players.
One of those will be a goalkeeper, with Mills agreeing with Matt Upson that new boy Aaron Ramsdale will be left out.
Former England international Mills then said that Conor Coady, Ben Godfrey and James Ward-Prowse would also be left on the sidelines.
Mills told Sky Sports News: “Maguire and Stones go and Mings, those are your three main centre-backs. And even if Maguire is only half fit I would still take him in the 26. Give him a couple of weeks recovery time and he might even miss the first game.
“He could come into the second or third game and he would still be match fit. But if that’s the case you have to take cover. I think Coady and Godfrey will miss out. I think he might take Ben White.”
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold was controversially left out of the last squad for the World Cup qualifiers. And reports have since suggested the 22-year-old would not be handed a reprieve.
However, Southgate named him in his 33, along with Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker and Reece James.
And 21-cap former England defender Matt Upson thinks all four could go to the tournament.
Upson said: I think all four right-backs will go. We’re talking about a squad of 26.
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‘All four right-backs will go’
“We used to be talking about 23 but I don’t think it will be outrageous is all four went – Trippier, Walker, James and Alexander-Arnold.”
Pushed on who would miss out on attack, Mills opted to axe 12-goal Man Utd striker Greenwood. While he also sidelined Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins and Arsenal’s left-sided Saka.
“I’ve got Watkins missing out and also Mason Greenwood missing out, as well as Saka,” added Mills.
“You have 10 strikers and three positions and also Mount and Lingard can step up. Watkins would not get used and there’s enough players on the left without Saka.
“Greenwood would be the one, he’s a finisher, but who do you leave out for him?”
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