Jack Grealish in danger of missing out on England spot at Euro 2024 as Gareth Southgate issues update on Man City star

Grealish, who curtailed his holidays to join the England squad early, has faced a challenging season with Manchester City. His struggles were evident as he remained a benchwarmer in the FA Cup final and could start in only one of the last seven Premier League games. This lack of consistent playtime has put his position in the England squad under scrutiny.

Speaking to reporters, Southgate said: "We think we know who the best have been across the season, but what we don’t totally know is how many we need to take or how many we can allow ourselves to take because of the cover we might need in other positions as well.

"It’s obvious this season he [Grealish] has not played as much as last season. I’m sure he would have liked that to be different but we know the qualities he can bring and the qualities he has. He is a player we enjoy working with and a character we enjoy having within the group. We know where we’re likely to be. It’s hard to be quite so specific because we keep sitting down and saying: ‘Okay, if it’s this or this’. Then somebody else in the room says, ‘What if we lose that player?’”

Southgate will be missing several key players against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park as Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, and Bukayo Saka are unavailable due to injuries. Whereas, John Stones will miss out as he joined the squad late following the FA Cup final.

When questioned about Maguire's availability for the Euro 2024 opener against Serbia on June 16 in Gelsenkirchen, Southgate’s response was cautious: “We don’t know that at the moment”.

Southgate's approach to injury assessments is pragmatic and rooted in experience. He candidly expressed his scepticism about players’ self-reports on their fitness and assured that his final decision will be driven by medical reports and will rely minimally on the player's account.

“They’re lying buggers really!” he said. “If you’re in a relegation battle, the treatment room is absolutely full. If you’re in a cup final it’s empty. I’ve learned that, from being here [at Middlesbrough], and playing cup finals as well. They have great intentions and are super positive, but equally, they want to be on the plane, so have got to have a more in-depth view than that. I’ll consult the players as little as possible”.

The looming deadline for Southgate to trim his squad to 26 players by Saturday adds urgency to the situation. Seven players will face the disappointment of missing out on the trip to Germany. This decisive culling process underscores the immense pressure on Southgate and his team as they strive to balance experience, fitness, and form in their selections. While Grealish’s talent and flair are undeniable, his recent form and fitness raise questions.