‘Devastated doesn’t quite cut it’ - James Maddison breaks silence after being axed from England's Euro 2024 squad and makes brutally honest admission

Maddison has already departed the England camp after being informed by Southgate he will not be in his final squad for Euro 2024. The Tottenham star was one of 33 players named on the provisional list, and did play against Bosnia on Monday night as a second-half substitute, but has now been released.

Maddison started the season brightly with Tottenham following his summer move from Leicester but suffered a setback when he was ruled out with an ankle injury for two months. The England star couldn't quite replicate his early-season form with Tottenham in the final months of the campaign but has admitted he had hoped to be on the plane for the tournament in Germany.

He posted on X: "Devastated doesn’t quite cut it. Trained well and worked hard all week but if I’m honest with myself, my form for Spurs when coming back from injury in the second half of the season probably wasn’t at the levels I had set which gave Gareth a decision to make. I still thought there would be a space for me in a 26 man squad as I feel I bring something different & had been a mainstay in this whole qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 in Germany but the manager has made the decision and I have to respect that. I’ll be back, I have no doubt. Wishing the boys all the luck in the world out in Germany, unbelievable group and lads that I literally call some of my best friends. I genuinely hope football comes home."

Southgate has also cut Curtis Jones from his squad and must hand the bad news to five more players before Friday's deadline. Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is a contender as he continues to battle injury, while Jack Grealish has also been tipped to miss out. England's final friendly is also on Friday, as the Three Lions take on Iceland at Wembley Stadium.