Man Utd misery deepened as Gareth Southgate nudges showed how players are viewed

Manchester United have just two players in Gareth Southgate’s squad for England’s forthcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast – fewer than Crystal Palace

Manchester United’s poor season is mirrored in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

United have endured a mixed campaign amongst Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick and the club only has two players in the Three Lions squad. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are the only United players to have made it Marcus Rasford, Jadon SanchoAaron Wan-Bissaka, Jesse Lingard and Dean Henderson are among those left out.

Maguire and Shaw may be lucky enough to be called up as both are far from the form in which they played a key role in England’s run to the Euro 2020 final last year. The United captain has struggled for rhythm in part through injury, while Shaw has been sidelined through injury for the past three weeks.

Southgate showed loyalty to Maguire with his selection for the Wembley Stadium friendlies and said so never crossed his mind to drop the 29-year-old. “He was an important part of the starting XI that took us to a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final,” said Southgate. “There is no doubt in my mind that he is one of our best centre-backs.”

That was not the case for Rashford and Sancho, however, as both struggling strikers were unceremoniously dropped by United despite their efforts to help England reach the Euro 2020 final last summer. “There are other attacking players in our squad that we think are ahead of him,” said Southgate when asked about Sancho. “Jadon has improved his performances in recent weeks but it’s an area of ​​the pitch where we’re competing for places.”

On Rashford, who has scored just five goals in 26 games this season, Southgate added: “With Marcus he’s in the same position as everyone else, whether they’re in the squad or not, they all have to play well next period , it’s a difficult time for him, he’s clearly not at his best. We have plenty of time, we know about Marcus, we know what he can bring us.”

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United’s decline was underscored by the fact that after the Squad update On Monday, crystal palace now more players in the England squad than Rangnick’s side. Full-back Tyrick Mitchell has been added to the squad, which also includes centre-back Marc Guehi and midfielder Conor Gallagher.

Call-ups for Mitchell and Walker-Peters are particularly devastating for Wan-Bissaka, who left Palace for United for £50m in July 2019 but has not progressed. The 24-year-old recently lost his spot to Diogo Dalot and is not even in the picture for an England senior call-up despite the injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James.

United appear to be going in the opposite direction to their top four rivals arsenal, who have three players in the squad – Ben White, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka – while Aaron Ramsdale was included before the injury. rivals Manchester City however, have four players Liverpool and Chelsea only one player is involved in both – Jordan Henderson and Mason Mount respectively – partly due to injury.