Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Ben White has been called to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold after the Liverpool right-back suffered a thigh injury in the 1-0 win over Austria, effectively ruling him out from the Euro 2020.
Ben White is said to be a good option as the 23-year-old was very impressive this season at BHA. His selection comes as a shock because one of James Ward Prowse or Jesse Lingard were expected to make the cut. Gareth Southgate has gone for a more defensive approach for the upcoming tournament, evident by his selection of four right-backs before Trent got injured.
Jordan Henderson is another player whose fitness could be a cause of concern for the England manager. The Liverpool skipper made his first appearance since February 20 against Romania after coming on at half-time. It is not clear whether he would be in the XI that would take on Croatia in their Euro 2020 opener.
Ward-Prowse put up a highly impressive performance against Romania, and with the Southampton midfielder also able to play the right defensive flank, he would have added some more depth to the squad.
Ever since the season ended, speculations about Trent’s inclusion in the 26-man squad for the Euros were on, and unfortunately for the 22-year-old, it simply hasn’t been his season.
It is understood that White was included as he is believed to be an equally good player at the centre of the defence. Tyrone Mings hasn’t hit top form while Harry Maguire continues to battle ankle ligament issues. The Manchester United centre-back is unlikely to be fit in time for England’s opening fixture against Croatia, and White is the one likely to cover for the 28-year-old.
Many pundits have questioned Southgate’s selection ahead of the tournament as in recent years, much of The Three Lions’ success has come off set-pieces, and Ward-Prowse was at the heart of them all. It will be interesting to see the type of tactics that Southgate’s going to employ. With the amount of defensive cover in the squad, it is highly likely that England will be sitting back only to hit their opponents on the break.
