England squad announcement LIVE: Jordan Henderson set for Euro 2024 axe as Eze and Wharton make cut

The Daily Mail is also reporting that Ivan Toney is in the initial squad. He was not necessarily a shoo-in, given his poor club form in recent months, without a goal since February. But the striker is in the group and will hope to make the final 26 after scoring a penalty against Belgium in March to remind Gareth Southgate of his spot-kick prowess.

James Maddison and Kobbie Mainoo are the latest players to be confirmed in the training squad, although they are no great surprise.

The initial squad’s size has still not been confirmed but we are expecting around 33 players to be named, meaning seven or so will be cut when the final 26 are announced on Saturday 8 July, six days before Euro 2024 begins.

A key figure in England’s last two tournaments, the Euro 2020 final goalscorer has endured a difficult, injury-impacted campaign. The 28-year-old has only managed 15 appearances for Manchester United this term and has not featured for the national team since last June. Shaw is expected to return for United from his latest setback next month and feature before the end of the season. Southgate would surely include someone he calls “one of the best left-backs in world football” if the squad is enlarged.

Right-back is nowhere near as much of a pressing issue as left-back given England’s options, but a selection of 26 would offer James a glimmer of hope. The Chelsea captain has only managed nine appearances this term and is at risk of missing his second successive international tournament, having been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar with a knee injury. This time James is dealing with a hamstring issue and the Football Association has been in close contact with Chelsea throughout the 24-year-old’s rehabilitation.

Eric Dier believes he is playing the best football of his career and warrants a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad.

The 30-year-old has been a regular for Bayern Munich since his eye-catching loan switch in January, having dropped down the pecking order at Tottenham where he made only four appearances under Ange Postecoglou.

Dier has impressed for the German giants but Southgate overlooked the 49-cap England defender for March’s final camp before naming his Euros squad.

“Obviously, I want to be a part of the England set-up and I believe that I should be a part of it, that I’m that level of a player,” Dier told The Overlap podcast.

“I haven’t spoken at all to Gareth Southgate, but you try and play as well as possible for your club and then the decision is out of your hands.

“Since the World Cup, I wouldn’t say that I’ve had any dip in form, I’m playing the best football of my career since (Antonio) Conte came (to Tottenham in 2021) and I’ve carried it on since I’ve been here, and I think I’ve shown that.

“People think that I’m 37 or something, but I’m 30 years-old and am nowhere near the end of my prime and imagine that this will be my prime.

“When I look around the players I’ve played with in my career, like (Mousa) Dembele, (Jan) Vertonghen, (Toby) Alderweireld, (Hugo) Lloris – all these guys, they were 31, 32 and were playing their best football at Tottenham.”

Here’s a bit more on Adam Wharton, the Crystal Palace midfielder who is expected to be announced in the senior England squad for the first time today:

Reports are now surfacing that Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah is included in England’s initial squad, to be officially announced later today. The 21-year-old has been excellent this season coming into the Reds’ defence alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)

Luke Shaw (Manchester United)

Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)

Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)

Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)

He said: “You have to take those moments and opportunities and use them to fuel you going forward.

“I think this group of players, what was a very young group then is more experienced now after a few tournaments since. We’ve got good experience that we can use to fuel us, motivate us and push us to go one step further this summer.”

In a complicated left-back situation, the injured Ben Chilwell will miss out today but the injured Luke Shaw will be included, according to the Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg – who also reports that West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen has made the training squad.

Does that mean Chilwell will not be included at Euro 2024, or could he still prove his fitness in time? I’m sure Gareth Southgate will be asked that question this afternoon.

And two more to note: Dean Henderson is set to be included as one of four goalkeepers, according to the Daily Mail. The others will be Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and James Trafford.

And Chelsea’s Levi Colwill has been selected among the defenders. The 21-year-old missed the past three months of action with a toe injury but did return to the Blues’ bench at the end of the season.