England manager Gareth Southgate will be sweating on the fitness of Kieran Trippier ahead of Euro 2024 after seeing the Newcastle defender forced off with an apparent injury in the club's unusual post-season friendly against Tottenham.
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.
Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson, Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling were all left out by Southgate, who will name his final 26-man squad for the tournament on June 8.
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The England manager has an embarrassment of riches in attacking areas but less strength in depth in defence, particularly at left-back.
Luke Shaw was included in the preliminary squad despite being currently sidelined through injury and was the only specialised left-back called up by Southgate, with Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell left out.
Trippier was included, partially because of his ability to play at both left-back and right-back, as can Liverpool defender Joe Gomez - who was also called up.
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However, Southgate now faces the prospect of being left short after seeing Trippier taken off by Newcastle in their friendly against Tottenham in Australia.
The former Spurs defender was spotted using an ice pack on the bench after leaving the pitch during the first half in their unusual post-season match.
"Trippier goes off for [Jacob] Murphy. Looked pre-planned but Trippier now getting an ice pack around his ankle and taking a seat on the bench," posted Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder on X.
The decision to stage the match in Australia has proved unpopular with UK fans of both clubs, particularly given its timing just a few days after the final day of the Premier League season.
Southgate will also be less than impressed with the staging of the match, with another England international James Maddison also involved.
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Southgate will be hoping Trippier's injury is not a serious one and he is able to take part in their upcoming warm-up matches for the Euros.
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).
Featured Image Credit: Getty & NUFCTopics: England, Euro 2024, Gareth Southgate, Kieran Trippier, Premier League, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur
Rory O'Callaghan