Gareth Southgate is ready to recall Man City’s Treble winners to England’s starting XI, as manager warns his side not to underestimate North Macedonia
- Gareth Southgate does not want England to underestimate North Macedonia
- He is set to include more Manchester City players at Old Trafford on Monday
- As a player, he remembers being caught up in stories about transfer speculation
Gareth Southgate is ready to restore some of Manchester City’s Treble winners to England’s team as he warned against underestimating North Macedonia.
While Phil Foden got 45 minutes against Malta on Friday, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips were left out of the fray as England sauntered to a 4-0 win but Southgate has no intentions of letting that quartet kick their heels in the final competitive match of a gruelling campaign.
England may have made a blistering start to Euro 2024 qualification but the idea this fixture will be some kind of cakewalk is an affront to Southgate, who has been reminding his squad that North Macedonia have never lost a game on these shores.
Walker and Stones – a contender to be viewed as the best English player of the last 12 months – are most likely to be brought back in with Southgate making it clear the fixture will be laced with difficulties if the approach is not right.
‘It is always difficult picking a team because we have some depth and players who have all trained well, all presenting well, all available’ said Southgate. ‘Looking at the opposition, the best way to win a game and the attributes we need so it is not an easy decision.
Gareth Southgate warns that England cannot underestimate North Macedonia on their visit
Man City players like Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker could return for the Old Trafford qualifier
‘They (the City contingent) are very talented, important players for us. We have looked at the opposition as well, making sure we get the balance of our team right. We are pleased to be bringing a team to Manchester. The team is for all of the country not just the south.’
The importance of remaining focused against North Macedonia, whom Southgate felt were unlucky to lose against Ukraine on Friday, is crucial at a time when some individuals within the squad are unsure about where they will be playing next season. As many as seven of this group could be on the move, including players such as Conor Gallagher and Jordan Pickford.
That, inevitably, has led to plenty of chatter within the group and Southgate had a wry smile and telling look over his shoulder at Luke Shaw – who had mischievously posted on Instagram about giving tours of Carrington to Harry Kane and Declan Rice – when he talked players’ futures.
‘I haven’t felt the need to say anything,’ said Southgate. ‘The players are tapping each other up on the quiet so I can’t do anything about that! But these things run their course. They happened in their own time, you can’t force it as a player; you don’t need to be updated on every call.
Southgate could give Trent Alexander-Arnold another chance in an advanced midfield role
‘I remember as a player getting too wrapped up in every detail. There is only a small amount as a player you can control. I think the players understand that and they know the focus for the next 36 hours is on the game.’
One intriguing aspect about this fixture is whether Southgate will give Trent Alexander-Arnold another opportunity to play in an advanced midfield role; the Liverpool star was outstanding in Malta and there is absolutely no reason why the same won’t be true at Old Trafford.
‘He deserves (the recognition), he played exceptionally well so he deserves all the credit he is getting,’ said Southgate, who first tried him as a midfielder against Andorra in September 2021. ‘The rest is noise, I don’t get too distracted by that – I have been in this role long enough.
‘It is another option (for us to have) and an exciting one. We know the outstanding qualities he has. He adapted really well to the role, it is different to what he is doing for his club. He delivered so great credit to him.’