GARETH SOUTHGATE has dropped a huge hint that he might not pick the full 26 players allowed for his England Euro 2024 squad.
Historically, the limit has been 23 players but both Euro 2020 and the last World Cup both saw that number expand to 26.
Uefa confirmed this month that squads for the European Championship will be allowed to be 26 again.
Southgate will select a larger provisional squad on Tuesday 21 May before he was expected to whittle it down to 23 for the June 7 deadline.
Now regulation change has allowed him the opportunity to take an additional three players.
England have a number of injury worries in defence, especially at full-back.
All of Kieran Trippier, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw have been sidelined for lengthy spells this term.
Southgate has now told BBC that the extra options with the squad numbers may help him with some of those “challenges”.
However, he also refused to confirm that he would take advantage of the additional three.
He says that he is yet to “decide whether 26 is the right amount” to take to Germany.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
And he also added that “there’s no point in taking more players than we need”.
Southgate also has a number of key decisions to make when it comes to his attack.
The likes of Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish are all pushing for starts.
And with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon all enjoying superb club form, competition is as fierce as ever.
Southgate said: “Well, we can’t start them all.
“They’re nice problems to have. You’d rather have talent and have to make decisions based on form, than not have those options and be scratching your heads on who to play in which position.
“I think any manager would say the same thing.
“You’d rather have good players to work with and to pick from.”
England face Bosnia-Hergzovina and Iceland in friendlies before Southgate will have to submit his final squad.
They kick off their Euro group stage campaign against Serbia on June 16 before taking on Denmark four days later.
The Three Lions then play Slovenia on June 25 in their final group game.
