Liverpool’s representation in the England squad was cut in half on Thursday.
The Reds have become used to having limited numbers of players with the Three Lions in recent years.
And while it was nice to see four members of the Liverpool squad initially called up by Gareth Southgate, that has now been slashed to two.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez will be the sole Liverpool representatives with England in Germany. Unfortunately, both Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah were bombed out of the group.
It was a shame for Jones, who has waited a long time for his first call-up. Southgate had some explaining to do to the Liverpool academy graduate.
Gareth Southgate explains Curtis Jones omission
In all honesty, it had always seemed unlikely that Jones would make the final cut. Still, it would have been nice to have seen him get on the pitch during the friendlies.
Quansah still might, after reports that the 21-year-old has stayed behind to participate in Friday’s friendly with Iceland.
For Jones though, the dream is over for now. Back to the drawing board.
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The fight once again gets back underway for the 23-year-old to force his way into Liverpool’s starting line-up. At least Jones will now get a full pre-season to impress Arne Slot.
And according to The Athletic, Southgate has been positive about the Liverpool man’s chances of getting back into the national team.
They claim that Jones and the England boss had a one-on-one meeting on Thursday, where the Scouser was told he would not be going to the Euros.
Despite that, Southgate reportedly informed Jones that he had impressed him during the training sessions.
The manager is also said to have told Curtis that he’d taken ‘great strides’ during the season with Liverpool and is on the way to establishing himself.
Curtis Jones gets head start on Liverpool competition
Although Jones will obviously have been disappointed not to have made the cut for England, this could have a positive effect in the long-term.
Many of his top competition for a midfield place at Liverpool will be taking part in international football this summer.
All of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will be away with their countries, for example.
Jones must make sure that he uses that to get a leg up on his teammates. He should be back at the AXA Training Centre from day one under Slot and he needs to ram that advantage home.
Should he do that and establish himself in the Liverpool starting XI early into the season, he’s a good bet to be back in the England team for the September friendlies.
Head up Curtis, it’s only the beginning.