Jesse Lingard to start in warm-up match against Austria despite being left out of the Euro squad
Jesse Lingard has not been included in England’s 26-man squad squad for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2020.
However, Gareth Southgate has given Lingard a chance to prove himself. The 28 year old will start in the warm-up match against Austria on 3 June.
“He [Lingard] will play tomorrow because we’ve got Sancho ill and a lot of players not available and, for the balance of the team, he will start. He deserves that opportunity to go and show me that I’m wrong,” Southgate said.
Lingard is currently on loan to West Ham and he has done a really great work for them. He scored 9 goals in 16 games for The Hammers, providing five assists.
“The lads that are with us are the standby list and we need to keep them match-ready.
“Everybody wants to play and that can affect our decision making in these two matches and the training sessions in the lead-up.
“We have got a very good idea of what we want to do, but that’s always got to be open to change – and that’s the opportunity the players have in the next two games.”
Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice and Mason Mount have all been included ahead of him in midfield.
Gareth continued: “Jesse has done incredibly well to get back in the race. Going back to January, he was a million miles from being selectable for an England squad.
“I said in March that he had a fabulous few weeks, but you’d have to say he was a little fortunate because we were without four wide players at that time.
“He had a good spell with West Ham and is a player that has played so well for England. We have total trust in the way he plays: he’s reliable and a great member of the group.”
