Poor guy. Can't get a break. Pep basically said in a press conference he needs to put more effort in. He gets a start but is injured.
Philippe Clement would welcome an England recall for Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland but knows Gareth Southgate needs to make that decisionhttps://t.co/YsmnqMu5I8.— PA Dugout (@PAdugout) February 27, 2024 Jarrod Bowen and Ollie Watkins are up alongside Erling Haaland for the most non-penalty goals in the Premier League! 🔥 On the plane for England at the Euros this summer? 🏴✈️ pic.twitter.com/aV4z5Kpe6e— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 27, 2024 Why Jarrod Bowen must start ahead of Bukayo Saka in England’s next match as Gareth Southgate assesses options for Euro 2024 | @DanKing_1974https://t.co/rWRgZHfEQYhttps://t.co/rWRgZHfEQY— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) February 28, 2024
Arsenal's concern over the injury record of Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus, 26, is a factor in their striker search, with Brentford's Ivan Toney, 27, Napoli's Victor Osimhen, 25, Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee, 22, and Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres, 25, among options considered. (Mail) Erik ten Hag and Marcus Rashford are barely on speaking terms as the pressure mounts on the Manchester United boss. (The Sun)
🚨 EXC: Marc Guehi undergoes surgery following setback in return from knee injury. Expected to miss up to eight weeks. Major blow to Crystal Palace and England. Guehi will miss forthcoming international’s versus Brazil and Belgium. Story: https://t.co/Zi0k115Izv— Sami Mokbel (@SamiMokbel81_DM) February 28, 2024 🚨🔴🔵 | Marc Guehi has underwent surgery following a setback in his return from a knee injury. #CPFCIf his recovery goes according to plan, Guehi will miss between six to eight weeks.(@SamiMokbel81_DM // @MailSport) pic.twitter.com/vYLGGnglRH— Everything England 🏴 (@TheEngllshGame) February 28, 2024 Bad news.
While not ideal, this one isn't a massive disaster. Eight weeks would take us to April 24th which would mean he'd still have four Premier League games to get back up to speed at the end of the season in addition to any minutes he gets against Bosnia and Iceland prior to the Euros. On a personal level his place in the squad is very secure so I'm not concerned for him there. With Konsa also out and Maguire picking up an injury now I think there's a decent chance Branthwaite gets a senior call-up. Tomori is back in Milan training so he could be fit enough to come back in. Could be something like: Stones, Dunk, Tomori, Branthwaite & Colwill for the next squad if Maguire & Konsa don't come back in time.
I feel while Branthwaite would be a sensible option recalling Gomez (Due to his flexibility) and/or Dier is more likely.
Colwill's been back to centre back in his last couple of games against as tough opposition as he'll face and done well (in my opinion....), I'd like to see him start with Stones. I've long believed his passing ability would give us an extra dimension. His reputation has taken a bit of a hit this season what with playing left back so much, and Chelsea being dysfunctional in general but i'd have a lot of hopes in a much more organised England side he's still capable of being a real asset in what he brings to the side.
I think there's a lot to be said for a Stones/Branthwaite partnership. Branthwaite is a more natural left-sided CB than Maguire and can mirror his size while also bringing an element of pace that we otherwise lack in that position with a Stones/Maguire partnership - not that Stones is slow, but he's not that quick either. I think it's really something Southgate should look at. I don't actually think Dier is that likely. His Bayern career got off to a promising start but he's come under fire a fair bit for recent performances.
Yeah, I think Levi Colwill has more than served his apprenticeship now. Let's see him making those clever, incisive passes through the lines alongside John Stones. The only reason for Southgate to choose a more experienced centre back like Dunk l guess, would be if he was tempted to play Stones in his hybrid Man City defender/midfielder role. Something which, again, could help to give England an edge we haven't had before.
It all comes down to if Southgate wants those in form but inexperienced like Branthwaite and Colwill vs not in good form but having experience like Dier.
A huge boost for Aston Villa as Ezri Konsa returns to training at Bodymoor Heath. He has missed the last four games in all competitions after spraining his knee in the win at Sheffield United.#AVFC— John Townley (@johntownley11) February 28, 2024 Konsa back in training.
Gilchrist. Chalobah, Madueke and Sterling start for Chelsea. Palmer, Chilwell, Gallagher, Colwill, Samuels - Smith, Murray - Campbell and Harrison are on the bench. Gray, Anthony and Joseph start for Leeds. Cresswell, Bamford, Shackleton and Byram are on the bench. Toffolo, Yates and Gibbs - White start for Nottingham Forest. Hudson - Odoi and Gardner on the bench. Rashford starts for Manchester United. Mainoo, Forson, Collyer and Ogunneye are on the bench. Kilman and Doyle start for Wolves. Dawson, Bentley. Chirewa and (Fraser) are on the bench. Steele and Dunk start for Brighton. Webster, Lallana, Welbeck, Offiah and Baker - Boaitey are on the bench. Gomez, Quansah, Clark, McConnell and Elliott start for Liverpool. Scanlon, Gordon, Nallo, Danns and Nyoni are on the bench. Lumley, Bree, Stephens, Rothwell and Edozie start for Leeds. McCarthy, Walker - Peters, A Armstrong, Harwood - Bellis, Amo - Ameyaw, Meghoma and Dibling are on the bench.
I’ve been following Chelsea v Leeds but apparently Rashford has not been playing well tonight and Alan Shearer tore into his performance at half time.
No Arsenal match the weekend after the next squad announced so Saka and Rice will have a little bit of rest before meeting up with the squad. No Brighton match either so a short rest for Dunk. Looking like they will be no Everton match either so Pickford will likely have a whole week off.