England manager Gareth Southgate has explained his decision to omit Jordan Henderson from the preliminary Euro 2024 squad, citing the midfielder's failure to regain full intensity after a recent injury. Henderson, who turns 34 during the tournament, has been a staple in England squads since Euro 2012 but misses out for the upcoming competition in Germany.
Southgate stated that the injury Henderson picked up during England's March camp, which caused him to miss five weeks, was the determining factor. "He wasn't able to get back up to the level of intensity," Southgate said, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision. Henderson has since returned to action for Ajax but was not deemed ready for the Euros.
The England boss admitted Henderson would be "a miss" but expressed confidence in the squad's leadership. "We've got young players with a lot of caps. There's no reason why young players can't lead," he added. Henderson's absence opens the door for less experienced players, including Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Liverpool's Curtis Jones, who have been included in the 33-man preliminary squad.
In contrast, Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has been included despite an injury-hit season, having made only 15 appearances and not featured for England since June 2023. Southgate described Shaw as "a long shot" but noted he has been given extra time due to his status as first-choice left-back. If Shaw fails to prove fitness, England may lack an orthodox left-back, with Joe Gomez and Kieran Trippier as potential alternatives.
England begin their Euro 2024 campaign on June 16, with Southgate required to trim the squad to 26 players before then. Friendlies against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland are scheduled for early June.
