James Trafford has became the fourth England player to be axed from Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad - before news of his final 26-man travelling party emerged.
The Burnley goalkeeper joins Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Maddison, Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah in missing out on a spot on the plane to Germany. Maddison and Jones have left the England camp after being informed they will not be going to Euro 2024.
And Trafford became another Three Lions player to learn his fate, ultimately missing out on the showpiece tournament this summer. The 21-year-old was a surprise inclusion in the training squad, meaning Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson and Aaron Ramsdale will be England's three goalkeepers bidding for Euros glory.
The players were selected by Gareth Southgate as part of a 33-man training group gearing up for this summer’s tournament in Germany. Maddison was introduced as a 61st-minute substitute in Monday’s 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park, where uncapped Jones was an unused substitute.
The midfield duo will not be involved in Friday’s send-off friendly against Iceland, having been informed they will not be part of the 26-man final squad submitted later that evening.
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The Football Association said in a statement: “James Maddison and Curtis Jones have departed the England camp, having been told they are not part of our final Euro 2024 squad. We thank them for being an important part of our pre-tournament preparation.”
Maddison, who went to the 2022 World Cup but did not make an appearance and has won seven caps in total, admitted he was “devastated” to be left out and felt he could have brought “something different” to the squad.
James Trafford (left) will miss out on a spot at Euro 2024 this summer (PA)He wrote on social media: “Devastated doesn’t quite cut it. Trained well and worked hard all week but if I’m honest with myself, my form for Spurs when coming back from injury in the second half of the season probably wasn’t at the levels I had set which gave Gareth a decision to make.
“I still thought there would be a space for me in a 26 man squad as I feel I bring something different & had been a mainstay in this whole qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 in Germany but the manager has made the decision and I have to respect that.
“I’ll be back, I have no doubt. Wishing the boys all the luck in the world out in Germany, unbelievable group and lads that I literally call some of my best friends. I genuinely hope football comes home.”
There were 27 players involved in training on the eve of the Iceland match, with Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham the only one yet to link up with England following his Champions League final win.
Anthony Gordon was able to train after missing Monday’s match against Bosnia through injury, but Lewis Dunk, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw followed individual programmes on Thursday.
Southgate has until 11pm on Friday to submit his final squad to UEFA, with the 26-man selection scheduled to be announced on Saturday morning.
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