ENGLAND NOTEBOOK: Gareth Southgate keeps his injured players close
It was interesting to observe the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luke Shaw outside the England dressing-room on Saturday night.
Gareth Southgate has personally called up some injured players to check on them and reassure them they are part of his plans, and Alexander-Arnold and Shaw are sure to make the squad for Germany if proving their fitness.
Indeed, their chances of starting at the Euros were enhanced during the defeat by Brazil, given left back Ben Chilwell and midfielder Conor Gallagher did not enjoy the best of nights.
Alexander-Arnold was in the company of former Liverpool team-mate Jordan Henderson as they headed for the team bus, and he was another whose stock perhaps increased without playing.
Gallagher, in fairness, emerged to speak to the written press and his place in the squad, if not the starting line-up, is almost certain.
However, sources at rival Premier League clubs tell us that Chelsea are actively trying to sell their academy graduate this summer, with 12 months to run on his contract and any transfer fee booked as ‘pure profit’ in an FFP world.
England debutants Anthony Gordon, Ezri Konsa and Kobbie Mainoo were presented with their first caps by Southgate on Sunday.
Konsa started as a substitute before replacing Kyle Walker after 20 minutes and, as he collected his red cap in front of the squad, Southgate joked: ‘Ez, 20 minutes in, came on and marked Vinicius (Junior), not a bad start!’
But it sounded like the heartiest applause from team-mates and staff was reserved for Mainoo, the 18-year-old who began the week with the Under-21s and ended it dribbling past Brazilians at Wembley.
One player whose involvement in England training last week perhaps went unnoticed was Kian Noble’s elevation from the
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