England manager Gareth Southgate described the decision to exclude midfielder Jordan Henderson from his provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024 as a “challenging choice.”
The 33-year-old has earned 81 caps since making his England debut in 2010.
Henderson left Liverpool for Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia last summer before joining a struggling Ajax in January.
“He is a fantastic professional and it was a difficult call to make,” Southgate said.
“He’ll be a miss. He’s an exceptional individual and fantastic human being.
“The determining factor is the injury he picked up in the last camp. He missed five weeks and he just hasn’t been able to get to the intensity in the games since then.”
Southgate has additionally left out Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford from the provisional squad for this summer’s tournament in Germany.
Rashford featured for just 16 minutes during the previous international break, appearing as a substitute in the 1-0 loss against Brazil, and he remained an unused substitute against Belgium.
Although the 26-year-old scored 30 goals for the Red Devils in the 2022-23 season, his tally dropped to eight in 2023-24.
“These are difficult calls – you are talking about players who are very good players who have been an important part of what we have done,” Southgate said.
“With Marcus [Rashford], I feel players in the same area of the pitch have had better seasons, it’s as simple as that.”
‘Long shot’ for Shaw to make final squad
Despite not featuring since 18 February due to injury, Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has been named in the provisional squad.
Shaw is the sole recognized left-back to be selected, although Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier and Liverpool’s Joe Gomez have both deputized in that role for the Three Lions in the past.
“[Shaw] is up against it – he has missed a lot of football,” Southgate said.
“Because he has been our first-choice left-back we are giving him more time. I am not sure what is realistic at this moment in time.
“I have talked with him and the medical staff and I have liaised with Manchester United very closely. I have to say he is a long shot.”
Chelsea right-back Reece James has also had a difficult time with injuries this season, only returning from a lengthy spell on the sidelines on 11 May, and he has been overlooked.
“This has been as complicated a group as I can remember picking,” Southgate said.
“There are a significant number injured – that will be apparent looking at the players who have missed the last few games of the season and some who are coming back for the last few games of the season.
“Some players are going to need more work, other players don’t need much at all and need refreshing. We have never had so many unknowns. The key is making the best possible decisions.”
Southgate has selected 11 defenders in his squad and 12 forwards, though that includes all England’s wide attacking options. He confirmed that number would have to be reduced by the deadline at midnight on 7 June.
“I think you can take too many forwards,” he added. “You can have too many options in certain areas of the pitch. Of course, with forwards you’ve got to give them love and make them feel special.
“If you’ve got too many, that can also be complicated. There’s a lot to think about over the next couple of weeks. I’d have loved it to be cleaner and more definitive, but it’s not the situation we’re in.”
Talisman Harry Kane missed Bayern Munich’s final two games of the season with a back injury but is expected to be fully fit by the time England kick off their Euros campaign against Serbia on 16 June.
Kane has enjoyed a stellar first season with the German club, scoring 44 goals, and is England’s all-time leading goalscorer.
“As far as we can tell that seems to be clear now,” Southgate said when asked about Kane’s fitness.
“I don’t know what the possibilities of recurrence are, but the advice is that should be all calm.”
England can ‘absolutely’ win Euros
England fell agonisingly short at Euro 2020, losing a penalty shootout against Italy in the final at Wembley.
The Three Lions head to Germany among the favourites to go all the way and Southgate is confident he has the tools to succeed.
“Everybody is waiting for that headline [‘We can win the Euros’]. I would be an idiot if I said no, and equally if I said yes that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of work ahead of us,” Southgate said.
“There is no doubt what’s possible, they have gone close already. Are we one of those teams that can win? Yes, absolutely.
“They know what is possible, they know what they’ve won at club level and what that’s taken. You can see cup football, you have to navigate game-by-game.”
Southgate has two friendlies to prepare his squad for the competition with Bosnia-Herzegovina travelling to St James’ Park on 3 June and Iceland heading to Wembley on 7 June.
He is hoping to deliver a first major men’s trophy since 1966.
The 53-year-old’s contract is set to expire in December and, asked whether he is more likely to stay or go if England do win the Euros, Southgate said: “I think it would be more likely that I would disappear somewhere for about six months and sit on a beach [if we won].
“Then I don’t know really, I’ve not thought beyond this tournament.
“I think my job is to prepare the team and I have been working in this building for 10 years. Nothing other than this tournament has entered my head over the last few months.”
England provisional squad
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).