England have many players like Jude Bellingham, Reece James, and James Maddison missing from their latest squad. England have two games of the 2024 EUROs qualifiers left. These games are against Malta and North Macedonia. Many players are missing from Gareth Southgate’s team to face these two opponents, either due to an injury or simply not being selected. Below are some of the most notable names missing from England’s squad for the final two 2024 EUROs qualifier games.
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1. Reece James
Reece James has represented England before but was unable to join the team this time out. Gareth Southgate said that he wanted to call up Reece James for the 2024 EUROs Qualifiers but was unable to do so. The Chelsea star played for Chelsea in the game against Manchester City before the international break but was taken off by Pochettino.
James wanted to go for international duty but Chelsea and Pochettino decided that he was not fully fit yet. They did not want to risk Reece James picking up another injury and therefore decided that he should sit out the remaining 2024 EUROs Qualifiers games.
2. James Ward-Prowse
James Ward-Prowse is one addition that many people expected to see in the team this time out. Ward-Prowse signed for West Ham in the summer transfer window from Southampton. The set piece specialist has been performing outstanding for West Ham. He has been a key player in West Ham’s midfield. It was shocking to see that James Ward-Prowse was not added to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
England have already qualified for the 2024 EUROs so these 2 final qualifier games would have been perfect for Southgate to try out new players ahead of the EUROs, but it seems James War-Prowse is not a part of his plan.
3. James Maddison
James Maddison has been in unreal form this season. He transferred from Leicester City to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer. Since joining them, he has arguably been their best player. James Maddison would have surely been called up had it not been for an injury he picked up a few games before the international break.
Maddison suffered an injury which may keep him on the sidelines till the new year. Given the form Maddison has been in, he will almost surely get back into the England squad as soon as he returns from injury. Both Tottenham and England will hope that Maddison continues playing how he started the season once he is back from his injury.
4. Anthony Gordon
Anthony Gordon transferred from Everton to Newcastle United. He has been a very important signing for them. Gordon has made the wing position in the Newcastle first team his own. It looked like he would be competing with Harvey Barnes for a place in the first team but it did not turn out that way.
Even before Harvey Barnes was sidelined with an injury, Gordon was the clear favourite. Gordon contributed with both goals and assists and many felt that he may have done enough to receive a callup to the England squad but that was not the case. Anthony Gordon was not in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
5. Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham was named in Gareth Southgate’s 25-man squad even though he had recently suffered an injury. Bellingham missed Real Madrid’s last 2 games due to a shoulder injury. Jude Bellingham and Gareth Southgate clearly thought that he had recovered well enough to be available for international duty.
Upon further assessment, however, England’s medical squad deemed Jude Bellingham to be unfit and sent him back to Spain. This means that Gareth Southgate will be without Jude Bellingham for England’s final two EUROs 2024 qualifiers. Bellingham will be gutted to miss out on playing for England but it is only a matter of time till he returns back to the squad.
6. Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling has arguably been Chelsea’s best player this season. Every Chelsea attack seems to go through Raheem Sterling. Sterling scored against his former team Manchester City in a 4-4 draw and created a lot of chances. Therefore, it comes as a shock to see that Gareth Southgate has decided to not call up Raheem Sterling for international duty.
Sterling was Southgate’s go to person at a point. Southgate has picked Sterling in the squad for a majority of his stint as England’s manager. After his recent rise in form, it looked like sterling would return to England’s squad but that did not turn out to be the case.
7. Callum Wilson
Callum Wilson was forced to withdraw from England’s squad due to a hamstring injury. Wilson also missed out on Newcastle’s game against Bournemouth due to this injury. Callum Wilson has been in amazing form, having already scored 7 goals in the Premier League this season.
He would surely be looking forward to replicating his goalscoring form for England. However, due to this unfortunate injury, he was forced to withdraw from England’s squad and will have to wait for a while to prove his worth on an international stage.
8. Lewis Dunk
Lewis Dunk is another unfortunate Englishman who was forced to withdraw from England’s team due to an injury. Dunk was forced off with an injury in Brighton’s Europa League game against Ajax. Dunk also missed Brighton’s Premier League game against Sheffield United as a result.
While his injury does not seem to be too serious, it was enough to force Dunk to withdraw from England’s squad. Lewis Dunk will be gutted at having to withdraw from the squad but will surely fight back for a place in the squad after he recovers from his injury.
9. Levi Colwill
Levi Colwill like Jude Bellingham was named in England’s 25-man squad despite him carrying an injury. Colwill was forced to sit out Chelsea’s 4-4 thriller against Manchester City. Colwill had a very minor injury which seemed to have healed in time.
However, England’s medical team carried out some assessments and decided that Colwill was not yet fully fit. They forced him to withdraw from the team and sent him back to Stamford Bridge to recover from his injuries.
Editors pick
