Crystal Palace duo Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze were today named in England's provisional squad for Euro 2024, joined by Liverpool pair Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah.
But Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson, Ben Chilwell and Reece James were left out by Gareth Southgate despite naming 33 players. Rashford played a key role for the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup but his form for Manchester United this season has been deeply underwhelming.
Wharton and Eze have been rewarded for their brilliant form for Palace, who finished the season with six wins in seven games under new manager Olivier Glasner. Wharton's call-up caps a remarkable rise for the 20-year-old midfielder, who has excelled since joining Palace from Blackburn in a £22million deal in January.
Eze earned the last of his two caps in September and his call-up will be extra sweet after he missed out on a place in the squad for Euro 2020 after suffering an Achilles injury on the day he found out he had been selected. Palace defender Marc Guehi and Eagles goalkeeper Dean Henderson were also called up.
Jones and Quansah earn their first call-ups as Southgate takes a closer look at the young options. Quansah joins Joe Gomez and Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite as defensive options, but Eric Dier was left out despite good form for Bayern Munich. Arsenal’s Ben White continues to be exiled, self-imposed or otherwise.
Jordan Henderson has been a regular in the England squad under Southgate but he has struggled for form and fitness since leaving Liverpool to join Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq last summer. He moved to Ajax in January in a bid to earn a call-up for the Euros but missed more than a month between March and April due to injury.
Southgate has named an initial list before revealing his final 26-man squad on June 8, two days before the team to travel to Germany.
England play warm-up friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park on June 3, and Iceland at Wembley four days later — giving the manager a chance to assess his fringe players.
England, who finished runners-up at the last Euros, face Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in Group C, which they are widely expected to win.
England provisional squad in full
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Henderson, Trafford, Ramsdale
Defenders: Branthwaite, Dunk, Gomez, Guehi, Konsa, Maguire, Quansah, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker
Midfielders: Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher, Jones, Mainoo, Rice, Wharton
Forwards: Bellingham, Bowen, Eze, Foden, Grealish, Gordon, Kane, Maddison, Palmer, Saka, Toney, Watkins
