fears that ’s ‘baffling gamble’ to include Luke Shaw in his England squad is harming his side’s chances at Euro 2024.
The left-back has not played any football since February when he suffered a hamstring injury
Despite that lack of game time, Shaw was still named in Southgate’s 26-man squad for this summer’s tournament but is yet to make an appearance in the competition.
The left-back was named on the bench against Serbia but missed out entirely against Denmark on Thursday and was as they turned their attention towards their final group-stage game against Slovenia on Tuesday.
In his absence, the right-footed Kieran Trippier has deputised at left-back but the Newcastle defender, who usually plays as a right-back, has
The stark lack of width was on full display as England on Thursday and Sutton fears Southgate’s decision to gamble on Shaw’s fitness instead of taking a fully fit, natural left-back is already coming back to haunt him.
‘I find the whole Luke Shaw situation baffling,’ the former England striker told Metro.co.uk.
‘Southgate talked about it being a gamble and that he may be fit for later on in the tournament, but England so clearly lack balance down that side.
‘That looks like a gamble, which has gone wrong at this moment in time because you need balance for the here and now.
‘And even if Shaw does come back in the next few games, he doesn’t have a great record of staying fit. So even when he does play, how fit is he going to be?
‘I do think that’s an issue. I think England, you know, anybody can see that black balance down that side and it’s going to harm their chances in this tournament.’
Another risk that Southgate has taken in the early stages of the tournament is deploying in a more central position.
The Liverpool full-back impressed in the role during warm-up fixtures but has struggled to provide the same level of control and creativity in England’s first two games.
After Thursday’s game, but Sutton feels the England manager’s own actions show that the new role hasn’t worked.
‘I was pretty balanced about putting him in midfielder because he is a wonderful passer of a football, but we all knew he would have his deficiencies in that position,’ Sutton said.
‘What has occurred in both games is Gareth has admitted that he’s got it wrong both times picking him because he’s hooked him off twice. He might deny it but that’s the way it looks.
‘Now he has to be bold in terms of making a change in that area. England should have had greater control of the games in both games, and that’s something which Gareth has to get on top of.’
Chris Sutton has teamed up with Greggs and Just Eat to launch xGreggs (eXpected Greggs) as research reveals the UK hates complicated football statistics. The more goals from England and Scotland this tournament, the more free Sausage Rolls for everyone. See for more details.
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