No Palmer, Mainoo starts and Toney over Watkins: Malik Ouzia's England squad for Euro 2024 | OneFootball

Malik Ouzia @MalikOuzia_

now has two months to consider the final shape of his Euro 2024 squad, not to mention pray for better luck on the injury front than has blessed England this month.

Southgate is due to name a provisional squad on May 24, two days after the Premier League season ends, but before the Champions League and FA Cup finals.

As a result, the England boss will pick an expanded group to train ahead of pre-tournament friendlies with Iceland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to be whittled down to 23 by UEFA’s deadline on June 7.

Here, Malik Ouzia selects his England team for their Euros opener against Serbia and his final squad for Germany.

Goalkeepers

Aaron Ramsdale’s misfortune has ensured there is no doubt Jordan Pickford will head into a fourth consecutive major tournament as England’s No1, despite his mistake against Belgium.

He has quietly become key to England’s chances this summer, with Ramsdale’s skittish displays when occasionally called upon at Arsenal inspiring little confidence that he could seamlessly plug the gap should injury strike.

Jack Butland gets the third-keeper slot after Sam Johnstone was ruled out due to his elbow injury.

Defenders

England’s first-choice back-four is more or less set, with Harry Maguire, John Stones and Kyle Walker certain starters, and Luke Shaw likewise, if fit. Kieran Trippier is also nailed-on to travel and would start at left-back should Shaw fail to recover in time.

The questions, then, surround the deputies. Marc Guehi looked the next cab off the rank at centre-back during the autumn and while missing this month’s fixtures through injury might usually have harmed his cause, Lewis Dunk made a Horlicks of his chance and Jarrad Branthwaite did not get one.

Shaw will be England’s first choice at left-back if fit

AFP via Getty Images

Joe Gomez is preferred to Ezri Konsa as the other centre-back in my squad, even before his versatility comes into play.

With both Gomez and Trippier capable of covering at left-back, there is enough insurance to do without an eighth specialist defender, meaning no place for Ben Chilwell unless Shaw loses his race to be fit.

Midfielders

Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are bankers, while the question around Trent Alexander-Arnold’s involvement lies in whether Southgate will take the plunge on using him in midfield.

Jordan Henderson remains a key leader and would probably start were England playing a knockout game tomorrow. I’ve instead gone for Kobbie Mainoo in my XI to face Serbia in the hope the youngster can prove himself ready by the latter stages.

Elsewhere, the puzzle is intriguing in that there are a few players - certainly Conor Gallagher and perhaps even Kalvin Phillips - who could just as conceivably start the first game of the tournament as be left out of the squad entirely. I’ve omitted the pair, though Southgate may find room for Gallagher by sacrificing a winger.

James Maddison showed enough in his cameo on Tuesday to suggest he is worth taking as back up to Bellingham at No10, even though Phil Foden can play the position if required.

Forwards

Harry Kane is the leading man and the only debate lies in who plays understudy. It’s harsh on Ollie Watkins, but Ivan Toney is a better fit as a Kane-less England’s spearhead in a worst-case scenario and would be the man I’d want coming off the bench in search of a goal late on - or ahead of a penalty shootout.

Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins are in a battle to act as Harry Kane’s understudy

The FA via Getty Images

The wingers pose the most severe headache, both in terms of identity and number, albeit Southgate will at least have the luxury of knowing who is fit and flying come season’s end.

Bukayo Saka and Foden are the best of the bunch, though England still need to find a way to get the more from the latter off the left if they are to excel in the same team.

Jarrod Bowen took his club form onto the international stage, while I’m taking a punt on Jack Grealish finishing the season stronger than Marcus Rashford.

The final place came down to a shootout between Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon. Palmer has been unlucky with the timing of his injury this month and suffers for playing on the right, where England are loaded, so Gordon gets the nod to provide a different option on the left.

Malik Ouzia’s starting England XI vs Serbia (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Mainoo, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Kane

Malik Ouzia’s 23-man England squad for Euro 2024: