Any selection headaches Gareth Southgate may have had in the build-up to Euro 2020 will have been eased after it was revealed he will be able to choose a 26-man squad.
Usually, managers are only permitted to pick 23 players but, according to The Times, UEFA’s national team committee have agreed squads can be larger to help reduce the impact of COVID-19.
So, which players can benefit in the change? Here we take a look...
Trent Alexander-Arnold
The Liverpool defender’s exclusion for March's World Cup qualifiers caused quite a furore. How could the Champions League and Premier League title winner be left out?
Kyle Walker and Reece James were selected ahead of Alexander-Arnold, who has struggled for form in a faltering Liverpool side this season. It was also his error which led to one of the goals as the Reds lost 3-1 against Real Madrid in Europe.
However, supremely talented, a serious threat going forward and brilliant at set-pieces, he certainly has attributes Southgate will need to call on this summer.
Jude Bellingham
It was at the 2006 World Cup that a 17-year-old Theo Walcott was given a call up by Sven-Goran Eriksson. He didn’t feature at the tournament in Germany but the manager defended the decision, insisting the experience would aid him well.
Bellingham is the same age and will turn 18 midway through the Euros. However, his call-up doesn’t feel as risky. While Walcott had played for Southampton in the second tier, Bellingham did the same for Birmingham last year but has already proved himself in the Bundesliga since signing for Borussia Dortmund. Having played in the Champions League against Manchester City, he is ready.
The use of a bigger squad allows Southgate to take him with far less pressure on both for him to play.
Patrick Bamford
The 27-year-old is yet to earn a full England cap though has represented his country at Under-21 level. In the recent World Cup qualifiers, Aston Villa attacker Ollie Watkins was preferred.
However, with 14 goals and seven assists for Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds, he deserves a chance. The Chelsea academy graduate leads the line and has scored all sorts of strikes this campaign, showing some supreme technique to finish.
He is a man in form and the last spot in the squad should be given to another striker regularly netting in the Premier League.
