Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson Omitted from England's Provisional Euro 2024 Squad

May 22, 2024

Rashford's Omission: A Surprise Decision

Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson have been excluded from Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man England squad for Euro 2024. Manchester United's Rashford, 26, has struggled to find form this season, scoring only seven goals and managing two assists in 33 league appearances. Despite playing in seven England games this season, he was left out of the squad for the match against Belgium in March.

Rashford took to social media to share a screenshot of the training squad, wishing Gareth Southgate and the team "all the best" for the tournament.

Henderson's Move and Continued Selection

Jordan Henderson, who transferred to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia last summer before joining Ajax in January, has also been omitted. Southgate had continued to select Henderson following his move to the Saudi Pro League, despite some backlash from England fans. Henderson was included in the squad for the March friendlies against Brazil and Belgium but did not play.

Southgate's Provisional Squad: Key Selections

Southgate's initial squad features several uncapped players, including Jarrad Branthwaite, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah, Adam Wharton, and James Trafford. Branthwaite played a crucial role in Everton's Premier League safety, while Quansah and Jones contributed to Liverpool's third-place finish. Wharton impressed at Crystal Palace after his move from Blackburn Rovers, and Trafford received his first England call-up in March but has yet to play for the national team.

Provisional Squad Breakdown

Goalkeepers:

Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace),Jordan Pickford (Everton),Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal),James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders:

Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton),Lewis Dunk (Brighton),Joe Gomez (Liverpool),Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace),Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa),Harry Maguire (Manchester United),Jarell Quansah (Liverpool),Luke Shaw (Manchester United),John Stones (Manchester City),Kieran Trippier (Newcastle),Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders:

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool),Conor Gallagher (Chelsea),Curtis Jones (Liverpool),Kobbie,Mainoo (Manchester United),Declan Rice (Arsenal),Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards:

Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid),Jarrod Bowen (West Ham),Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace),Phil,Foden (Manchester City),Jack Grealish (Manchester City),Anthony Gordon (Newcastle),Harry Kane (Bayern Munich),James Maddison (Tottenham),Cole Palmer (Chelsea),Bukayo Saka (Arsenal),Ivan Toney (Brentford),Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

Key Omissions and Reactions

Notable absentees include Ben Chilwell, Eric Dier, Reece James, Jadon Sancho, Dominic Solanke, Raheem Sterling, and Ben White. Despite injury concerns over Shaw, Chilwell has not been picked, and James, who recently returned from injury, is also absent. Sterling has not played for England since the 2022 World Cup defeat by France.

Ben White's Situation

Ben White, who wasn't selected for the March fixtures, reportedly made himself unavailable for England duty. Southgate has confirmed no recent communication with White, who left the Qatar 2022 World Cup squad early due to personal reasons. White's versatility as a defender would have been crucial given the current injury issues in defense.

Upcoming Fixtures and Final Squad Decisions

The training squad will assemble on 29 May before friendlies against Bosnia-Herzegovina on 3 June and Iceland on 7 June. Southgate must trim the squad to 26 players by the midnight deadline on 7 June, with England opening their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on 16 June in Gelsenkirchen.