England manager Gareth Southgate has conceded that Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw will not be ready to return to the first XI for Sunday's Euro 2024 last-16 showdown with Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen.
The former Southampton man was a surprise call-up in the first place, having spent over four months out of action with a severe muscular injury, and it has been a year since he last turned out for his country.
Shaw has alternated between full and individual training since flying out to Germany with his teammates, and the left-back did not play a single minute in the group stage, where Kieran Trippier deputised out wide.
Shaw has been closing in on a return to full fitness in recent days and has practised with his teammates without any ill effects, offering hope that he could solve England's left-back concerns in the last-16 tie.
However, addressing the media before the showdown with the Slovakians, Southgate admitted that Shaw is still not in a position to start the match, meaning that he could potentially leave Germany without having played a single minute if England are knocked out this weekend.
© Reuters
Southgate hints at Jude Bellingham start amid fitness concerns
"Luke Shaw is not available to start but everyone else is all good. We will have a chat with the medical staff to see whether he can play a part. We have to deliver it," Southgate said.
"We are in a different, mental state. Knockout football is jeopardy and on any given day an opponent can make it tough for you. It's about how far can we go?
"We are trying to achieve something exceptional. Tomorrow is a chance to show composure, the game will take us in different directions in different moments. We have thrived on those challenges in the past."
While Shaw will take his place on the bench, Southgate has tempered concerns over the fitness of Jude Bellingham, who has looked leggy in England's draws with Denmark and Slovenia following his winning header against Serbia.
As a result, the Real Madrid man - who celebrated his 21st birthday on Saturday - is expected to continue in what may be an unchanged England attacking quartet, as Phil Foden made a quick return to the camp following the birth of his third child.
© Reuters
"When you are walking off the pitch and have given everything you feel in a certain way, physically and emotionally. Jude missed a period at the end of the season with an ankle injury so he will have benefitted form the matches he has had," Southgate added.
"Of course we have to be mindful of the quality we have to come into the game, freshness might make a difference in the latest stages of matches. But I am not concerned about Jude Bellingham's condition There are few players who have had to live in that world, his world is different to most 21-year-olds."
Will Southgate make any changes against Slovakia?
Pleas from frustrated supporters for Southgate to switch things up will mostly fall on deaf ears, as Foden's expected start means that Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze will be forced to wait their turn once more.
However, the England boss is expected to make a solitary alteration in the middle of the park with the inclusion of 19-year-old Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo, who was a bright spark in the goalless draw with Serbia.
Southgate is yet to settle on a regular partner for Declan Rice, trialling Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher alongside the Arsenal man, who previously had Kalvin Phillips by his side before the Manchester City lynchpin's decline.
