England axe more players after James Maddison as Euro 2024 squad takes shape

Curtis Jones and James Trafford have been informed that they won’t be a part of England’s Euro 2024 squad. Jarell Quansah is also expected to miss out, according to reports. The trio joins James Maddison as the first four of seven players who Gareth Southgate must omit from his preliminary 33-man group.

Maddison featured off the bench in Monday’s 3-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina at St. James’ Park but was considered an outsider to make the final group of 26.

He has now left the England camp ahead of Friday’s second and final Euro 2024 warm-up fixture against Iceland at Wembley Stadium.

Jones and Quansah were unused substitutes in Newcastle earlier this week, and neither will likely be in contention to face Iceland.

According to The Telegraph, Southgate has informed Jones that he won’t be travelling to Germany for this summer’s tournament, extending his wait for his England debut.

The report adds that Quansah is expected to join him in missing out following a somewhat surprising inclusion in England’s training group.

Trafford was another eye-catching selection. But England are expected to take three goalkeepers to the tournament, and Trafford is the one to miss out.

It leaves three remaining exclusions, which will be made official when Southgate confirms his Euro 2024 squad on Saturday.

Southgate has important decisions to make in defence, midfield and attack, with Jack Grealish possibly most at risk of falling short among the latter department.

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton was a refreshing inclusion in the preliminary squad, and he wowed supporters on his senior England debut against Bosnia.

Jones’ exclusion may boost the 20-year-old’s chances of making the cut, with the midfield joining the left side of the defence as the thinnest areas of Southgate’s squad.

One of Lewis Dunk, Jarrad Branthwaite and Ezri Konsa could stay behind with Quansah to chop the number of England’s natural centre-backs down to four.

There could also be a straight shoot-out between Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney for the role of Harry Kane’s back-up.

The former may have the advantage. Watkins was rewarded for a sensational season at Aston Villa with a start against Bosnia while Toney watched from the bench.

England start their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on June 16, kicking off Group C on the tournament’s third day.

The Three Lions then face Denmark in Frankfurt on June 20 and travel to Cologne to face Slovenia on June 25.