England manager Gareth Southgate says Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden have been left out of his squad for upcoming games against Wales, Belgium and Denmark to “send a message”.
As far as Manchester United are concerned, though, three players will be taking part in international duty with Southgate’s side — Dean Henderson, Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford.
Greenwood celebrates his 18th birthday and this is not the news he would have wanted but something he probably expected.
The Premier League pair were omitted after their misdemeanour in Iceland last month. They were fined by local police after breaking coronavirus protocols after making their senior debuts for the Three Lions.
They were sent home and missed the game against Denmark — but Southgate has decided not to select them for the next three games which are to be played over the course of the next fortnight.
However, Southgate has said Greenwood and Foden will be available for selection when England play in November.
Southgate said (via Manchester Evening News): “Whatever decision we would have taken this would have been the story tomorrow.
“We have to send a message to all our players in our teams at every age level that that sort of thing isn’t how we do things with England.
“Then we’ve got to rehabilitate these two boys. Young people will make mistakes. These lads have suffered enough now.
“I think they need this period of reflection but that gives them the opportunity to get back on their feet with their clubs, enjoy their football again.
“I can speak to them after this camp and it will just be about their form then.”
Although Southgate says he’ll take them back into the squad eventually, which is something he will have to do at some point, but I wonder if players got up to any mischief during his time as an England player.
Maybe he’s trying to change the perception of the England team — but that will only happen with success and at a time he’ll be calling for Greenwood to show up!
England squad in full as per Sky Sports
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Nick Pope (Burnley), Jordan Pickford (Everton).
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Michael Keane (Everton), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Harry Winks (Tottenham).
Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Harvey Barnes (Leicester), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Danny Ings (Southampton), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
Read more: Champions League: Loads of Manchester United fans react to difficult group stages draw
