The England squad for Euro 2024 was announced and there were a few big decisions made by Gareth Southgate.
Gareth Southgate named a 33-man provision squad which did not include Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
Southgate argued there were simply players in his position who had better seasons and Rashford reacted by simply wishing the team well for the summer tournament.
A year ago, Rashford would have been the first name selected, having scored 30 goals. This season he has scored just eight times.
Harry Maguire in, along with ex-United man Dean Henderson
While the timing in 2024 is off for Marcus Rashford, there are players who it has clearly worked out very well for.
One of those is Harry Maguire. This time last year he was clinging onto his England place. Another 12 months of the same, and he would have been out.
Maguire has fought back impressively, producing some of his best football since his debut season at United, and deserves his England spot.
Another is Dean Henderson, who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, backing up Keylor Navas.
Henderson finished last season on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a thigh injury. If there was a tournament in 2023, he would not have made it.
Manchester United sold Henderson to Crystal Palace last summer and he has ended the season in excellent form, earning an England call-up.
Henderson wrote on Instagram that it was ‘an honour’ to receive a call-up, as he bids to add to his one solitary England appearance in 2020. He has been in squads since, but has not played.
Maguire, still close to Henderson, sent him a congratulatory message, writing: “Let’s go mate.”
Luke Shaw involvement unclear
Kobbie Mainoo was selected in the squad along with Maguire, as expected. Luke Shaw was also selected, despite not playing for Manchester United due to injury since the start of 2024.
Southgate explained it was a little bit of gamble, and Shaw could be one of the players who does not make the final cut to 26.
Shaw has been included to give him a little more time to prove himself. From a United perspective, it’s better he gets some rest. The last thing we need for next season is for the left-back to re-aggravate his injury by rushing back too soon.