Topics: Gareth Southgate, England, Premier League, Arsenal, Euro 2024, Football
England manager Gareth Southgate has already dropped a hint over Ben White's future ahead of finalising his provisional squad for Euro 2024.
Southgate is expected to name a 30-man squad for friendlies against Iceland and Bosnia and Herzegovina in June, with that number reduced to 26 players in time for Euro 2024.
The biggest news prior to the announcement is that Jordan Henderson has not been selected, with his former Liverpool team-mate Curtis Jones set to replace him.
The Daily Mail report that Crystal Palace quartet Marc Guehi, Dean Henderson, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton will all be selected, with Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford also set to be involved.
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One player who is not included at all in the provisional lineup is White, who has not been selected in an England squad since the 2022 World Cup.
He left that tournament early, and Southgate stated that the Arsenal defender had requested not to be selected for the March friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
The Telegraph reported that there was an exchange between White and England assistant coach Steve Holland in Qatar, which took place alongside other members of the squad.
White was said to be unhappy by a remark allegedly made by Holland about how he was 'not sufficiently interested in football'.
And while there was said to be no row between the pair, it is claimed that the issue surrounded 'a question of the respect shown to the player'. Southgate, the report adds, believed there was no longer an issue prior to White leaving the squad in Qatar.
Southgate has publicly commented on the issue only once since announcing that White was unavailable for selection, after the subject was was broached by fellow Arsenal star Declan Rice during the last international break.
The England boss told reporters: "As I've said to you, the door is open for us.
"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.
"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]."
