Gareth Southgate's blunt response when asked why Ben White isn't in England's preliminary Euro 2024 squad

England manager Gareth Southgate gave an extremely blunt response when asked about Ben White's omission from his latest squad.

Southgate named his 33-man preliminary squad for Euro 2024 on Tuesday ahead of England's upcoming friendlies against Iceland and Bosnia and Herzegovina - their final warm-up matches for this summer's tournament in Germany.

Southgate left several hugely experienced players out of the squad including Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and Eric Dier.

He also didn't include Arsenal defender White, despite his excellent form for the Gunners this season.

White has not been selected in an England squad since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He left that tournament early, following a reported row with England assistant coach Steve Holland.

Southgate stated in March that White had requested not to be selected for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.

He now looks set to miss Euro 2024 after being left out of England's latest squad.

When asked if he had attempted to speak to White before announcing the squad, Southgate told a press conference: "No.

"As far as I'm aware, he's not available to us."

Speaking after the March international break, Southgate had suggested White could work his way back into the manager's plans – but only if he made the first move.

"It's really for Ben now. As I've said to you, the door is open for us," Southgate said at the time.

"That's clearly difficult ahead of the Euros, where you've got players that have played all the way through, but we have no idea of knowing who's going to be available in that area of the pitch.

Gareth Southgate did not even bother contacting Ben White regarding England’s Euro 2024 squad:

“No. As far as I am aware he’s not available to us." 🤐

🔗 https://t.co/XDxbsmt31W pic.twitter.com/ZCAw0lmidy

— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) May 21, 2024

"I respected the situation as Arsenal have contacted us. So, in the end, I know the conversation I had with him last March.

"I felt I should back away from it a little bit. But I've always left the door open. I was keen to bring in this camp [for Brazil and Belgium friendlies]."

White now looks extremely unlikely to make England's final 26-man squad for the Euros, which is set to be announced on June 8.

Before then, England face Iceland in a friendly on June 3 before taking on Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 7.

They will then face Serbia in their opening game of the Euros on June 16 before further group matches against Denmark (June 20) and Slovenia (June 25).

England's provisional Euro 2024 squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones (both Manchester City), Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw (both Manchester United), Jarell Quansah, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold (all Liverpool), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Jack Grealish, Phil Foden (both Manchester City), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton (both Crystal Palace), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), James Maddison (Tottenham)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)