Gareth Southgate has provided an important update regarding the injuries of Manchester United players Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire as England prepares for their friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As the Three Lions get ready for the upcoming clash at St. George’s Park on Monday evening, it has been confirmed that both Shaw and Maguire will not be participating. These absences come in the wake of their recent omissions from Erik ten Hag’s concluding fixtures of the season, which notably included Manchester United’s FA Cup victory over Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. Despite their injuries, Southgate still saw fit to include them in England’s preliminary squad for the 2024 European Championship.
The decision to call up Shaw and Maguire underscores their significant roles in Southgate’s England teams during recent major tournaments. This strategic move highlights their importance to the squad, reflecting their contributions to past successes. Maguire, in particular, is expected to regain fitness in time for England’s first match of the tournament against Serbia on June 16. However, Shaw’s status remains more uncertain, casting doubt on his availability for the same game.
During a press conference on Sunday, Southgate shared updates not only on Shaw and Maguire but also on Newcastle United’s winger Anthony Gordon. He mentioned that all three players are making good progress in their recoveries, which is encouraging news for England fans. Southgate, however, confirmed that none of them would be available for the friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Southgate also noted the likely absences of Bukayo Saka and possibly John Stones for the match, although he assured that the rest of the squad would be involved. When pressed for further details on the recovery timelines for Shaw, Maguire, and Gordon, Southgate remained cautiously optimistic, stating that Gordon has a good chance of being ready for England’s subsequent game against Iceland on Friday. The outlook for Shaw and Maguire is less certain, with Southgate emphasizing the need to monitor their recoveries closely.
The absence of Shaw and Maguire from Manchester United’s final fixtures, including the prestigious FA Cup final, did not deter Southgate from including them in the provisional squad for the European Championship. Maguire’s prospects of being fit for the tournament opener look promising, but Shaw’s situation is less clear, raising concerns about his readiness.
In summary, while the absence of key players like Shaw and Maguire is a setback for England’s upcoming friendly, Southgate remains hopeful about their overall recovery and potential contributions to the team in the near future. The updates provided indicate a careful and measured approach to player fitness, with an eye on the broader goal of preparing a strong squad for the European Championship.