England manager Gareth Southgate has insisted that one Manchester United star is “one of the best” players in his position in world football right now.
Gareth Southgate will lead England to Euro 2024 in Germany this summer after the Three Lions’ successful qualifying campaign for the tournament.
England, who finished runners-up at Euro 2020, finished ahead of defending European champions Italy in Group C of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
The Three Lions won six of their eight Group C matches, with England finishing six points clear of second-place Italy and third-place Ukraine.
Southgate, who has been linked with Manchester United in recent weeks, is out of contract with England in December and his international future remains uncertain.
However, the England manager is keen to end the Three Lions’ long-running silverware drought, having fallen short in his managerial tenure so far.
Southgate is expected to call up United players to his Euro 2024 squad, including the likes of United star Marcus Rashford and former Red Devils captain Harry Maguire.
England boss Southgate praises Man Utd star
England have been placed in Group C for Euro 2024 alongside Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia, with the tournament beginning in June and running until July.
The Three Lions returned to action on Saturday under Gareth Southgate, with Brazil picking up a 1-0 win over England at Wembley in an international friendly.
Both Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire played in the aforementioned defeat, while Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo made his hotly anticipated England debut.
Despite different Red Devils players competing in the match against Brazil, Southgate was without United left-back Luke Shaw for the defeat at Wembley.
The 53-year-old England manager admitted that Luke Shaw, who is currently sidelined due to injury, could see his playing time limited due to fitness issues.
Southgate insisted that Shaw is one of the best left-backs in world football, having turned to Ben Chilwell for the match against Brazil in the United’s star’s absence.
“He’s [Shaw] going to be right on the edge of the season,” he said after the Brazil match, as per the Metro.
“We know now to play seven matches in a Euros is highly unlikely.”
Southgate continued: “I thought Ben defended really well and it was an important game for him.
“I don’t want to kill Ben. But Luke’s one of the best left-backs in world football, frankly.”
Southgate knows importance of England star Shaw
Shaw has currently been sidelined through injury after he was forced off in United’s 2-1 Premier League win over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in February.
United confirmed that the 28-year-old Red Devils left-back had suffered a muscle injury and Shaw would be out for an “extended period” for club and country.
The Red Devils added that they expected Shaw to be “absent for a few months,” putting doubts over the England star’s fitness ahead of Euro 2024 in Germany.
Southgate had dropped his views on Shaw after his injury ruled him out of action for England’s matches against Brazil and Belgium in the Match international break.
Shaw has been an integral part of the England first team under Southgate and his absence will no doubt be felt if the Three Lions head to Euro 2024 without him.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/Jnuzhij