Gareth Southgate has explained why Marcus Rashford didn’t feature against Belgium on Tuesday night.
Jude Bellingham’s late equaliser ensured the Three Lions didn’t lose both of their games in the latest international break, with the Real Madrid star slotting home to make it 2-2 with the last kick of the game.
Ivan Toney’s penalty had cancelled out Youri Tielemans’ opener, but the Aston Villa man netted again following an error from Lewis Dunk to put his side back ahead in the first half.
The game allowed Southgate to look at a number of his players, with the likes of Anthony Gordon, Ezri Konsa and Joe Gomez all enjoying minutes at Wembley.
One man who didn’t, however, was Rashford, who was an unused substitute in the game, and Southgate has outlined the reason why he wasn’t used despite his place at the Euros not being secure.Â
Gareth Southgate has explained why Marcus Rashford (pictured) didn’t play against Belgium
Rashford was an unused substitute and featured for a total of just 15 minutes over the international break
Southgate revealed the forward wasn’t injured and there was in face another explanation for his absence
When asked after the game if Rashford’s absence was down to injury, Southgate said: ‘No, I wanted to see Anthony Gordon again.
‘I thought he had an excellent impact in the first game and I thought that [James] Maddison coming into that area could open things up for us a bit.’
Gordon entered the fray in place of Jarrod Bowen in the 80th minute of the match for his second senior England cap, having made his debut in the first friendly of the international break against Brazil at the weekend.
He played 85 minutes in total across the two games, with it seeming like a metaphorical toss of the coin whether he will be named in the 23-man squad for this summer’s Championships.
Competition is rife when it comes to the wide midfielder spots, with the likes of Gordon, Rashford, Cole Palmer, and Jarrod Bowen jockeying for position and other players, such as Maddison, able to play the role.
With places on the plane to Germany secure for Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden, it’s possible only two of the four players will earn a spot in the summer’s squad.
Rashford played a total of 15 minutes over the two games – all coming against Brazil – but his familiarity to Southgate and ability to play all across the front line will work in his favour.
Questions were raised over the lack of minutes for Palmer, meanwhile, who missed the Brazil game through injury but was an unused substitute on Tuesday. Bowen played 80 minutes on Tuesday and 23 against Brazil.
Anthony Gordon (pictured) enjoyed 85 minutes-worth of action across England’s two matches
Jarrod Bowen (left) also saw plenty of action with competition for a place in the Euros squad rife
Southgate will have a deadline of June 8 to name his squad for the Euros, which kick off on June 14 and run for exactly one month.
He is set to name a preliminary squad on May 21, with two final games to be played prior to the final deadline in friendly matches, both at home.
The Three Lions will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park on June 3, before a farewell game versus Iceland four days later, a day before the final squad is named.
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