- England’s squad reported to St George’s Park ahead of their first training session
- Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis were the pick of the arrivals after senior call-ups
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Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis were the pick of the arrivals as England’s squad reported for duty at St George’s Park ahead of their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
The young duo were handed their first senior international call-ups by Gareth Southgate, who welcomed his group to the Three Lions’ training base on Monday.
Players began to trickle through the doors throughout the evening, with Chelsea sensation Palmer and Manchester City’s Lewis seemingly dropped off together.
Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, long on the radar of boss Southgate, beamed for the waiting cameras outside the complex after receiving his first call-up.
Palmer, Lewis and Konsa were belatedly given the nod after James Maddison, Lewis Dunk and Callum Wilson all withdrew from the group due to injury.
Captain Harry Kane and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire also linked up with their fellow squad mates, both adorned in their country’s training gear.
Maguire battled his way back into contention under Erik ten Hag, having made the most of the injury crisis at Old Trafford, and appeared in positive spirits.
England will face Malta and North Macedonia as they round off their qualifying campaign – and will target two victories despite guaranteeing their spot in Germany.
Also pictured arriving were Bukayo Saka, the in-form Arsenal winger sharing a warm embrace with Southgate, Jordan Henderson and Conor Gallagher.
Southgate, meanwhile, is set to shortly decide on Jude Bellingham’s fitness.
Bellingham reported to St George’s Park as expected and medics will examine his fitness, with Real Madrid claiming he will miss a fortnight due to a shoulder issue.
Should the Three Lions deem him unavailable for the qualifiers, Bellingham will be extended an invitation to stay at the training base and undergo part of his rehab.
With this the penultimate camp before Southgate names his Euro 2024 squad, he believes it is beneficial for his players to remain part of the group for team meetings.
Bellingham, Luke Shaw and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all joined and remained with the squad for a period this year despite injury forcing them to the sidelines.
Southgate is planning to pick strong teams against Malta and North Macedonia with his side needing two victories to ensure they are seeded for next year’s tournament.
A seeding would allow them to avoid France and Germany in the group stage.
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
