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Topics: Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Manchester United, England, Gareth Southgate
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Manchester United, England, Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate says Marcus Rashford has a "battle on his hands" when it comes to getting into his 23-man squad for this summer's European Championship.
On Thursday, the Three Lions manager named a 25-man squad ahead of back-to-back friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this month, with Rashford being included.
Rashford has struggled to impress for club side Manchester United this season and Southgate knows he will face competition from fellow attacking players ahead of this summer's tournament.
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But he isn't the only one. City winger Jack Grealish, another player who has struggled for consistency, was name-dropped ahead of this month's international break.
"He [Rashford] has a battle on his hands with Gordon, with [Cole] Palmer, with [Phil] Foden - so we've got big competition for places in that area of the field," Southgate said.
He added: "What happens while players are with their clubs is club matters because they know the full story. They know exactly what's going on. We observe everything.
"I don't say behaviours off the field are irrelevant because clearly they're not."
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Southgate continued: "But the key thing is we are mainly focusing on the performances on the field. He's got big competition. So has Jack."
The England boss, meanwhile, included two first-time call-ups in his recent squad – Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon.
Branthwaite earned his call-up after impressing for the Toffees, while Gordon has scored three goals in his last five games for Eddie Howe's men.
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"These guys are playing well - Gordon, Bowen, they're scoring regularly, they perform well, defend well, work hard, they compete and we've got really good options in that area of the pitch," Southgate said.
"I can't guarantee anybody [a place in the squad]. We have to have an environment where we know in certain positions who our best players might be.
"We know what Marcus can bring to us but equally everybody has got to perform well between now and the end of the season."