Gareth Southgate hopes to have Luke Shaw available for England as soon as possible despite Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag claiming he will miss all the group matches at Euro 2024.
The Three Lions got their European Championship campaign off to a winning start against Serbia on Monday with Jude Bellingham on the score sheet.
Shaw was an unused substitute having not played any football since February that night.
The left-back was back training with the first-team last week ahead of the Serbia game but was absent from the group one again on Wednesday, instead working on an individual training programme.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Southgate confirmed Shaw will not be involved on Thursday night against Denmark.
‘These are the decisions we have to make, not just tomorrow but whenever we play,’ the England boss said.
‘We have to decide what the right physical level for group is and what it is for individual players. Without a doubt, players will benefit from having the game. We have to balance to stick with what we did or to change and refresh the team.’
He continued: ‘Luke won’t be involved tomorrow. He’s actually on track for where we thought he would be originally. We were hoping a couple of days ago he might accelerate that bit but he needs a bit more volume work.
‘He didn’t train with group today because there are days when he needs to do more than the rest of the group and days when he needs to recover when the others are pushing. He is still in and out from the others but operating on his own programme as well.’
Following the Denmark match, England close their group campaign against Slovenia where Southgate could have the chance to make wholesale changes should qualification already be in the bag.
United manager ten Hag was part of Dutch television’s broadcast team for the England vs Serbia match at the weekend and claimed Shaw would have no role to play in any of England’s group matches.
Quizzed on ten Hag’s comments, Southgate responded: ‘Luke’s an outstanding players that’s why we took the decision to bring him although he is not played for so long. We were hopeful that can be as soon as possible.
‘We don’t want to put timeline on it but he is progressing well. Of course the balance he gives, the drives he gives, whoever plays with him down that side he gives a different outlet.
‘At the moment we don’t have him and have to adapt. Kieran [Trippier] gave a performance he has given so many times in big matches. If you speak to any winger who players in front of him, his communication is enormous. He has different attributes that Luke doesn’t.’
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