Three Manchester United players have been included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2022 World Cup.
Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire have got the callup, just as they did for Euro 2020, where England made the final.
Jadon Sancho was also at that tournament, missing a penalty in the shootout loss to Italy, but has been left out here.
Dean Henderson made a loan move to Nottingham Forest, likely at least partially motivated by a desire to go to Qatar, but has been left out.
Shaw, Rashford and Maguire in England World Cup 2022 squad
At his press conference after the announcement of the squad, Southgate was not asked about Shaw, Rashford, Sancho or Henderson.
He was asked about Harry Maguire, and why he has been selected despite his lack of gametime at Old Trafford this season, due to form and fitness.
Southgate said: “He’s one of our best centre-backs.
“So we know within the squad we’ve got a lot of players who have been to tournaments who have performed at the level required.”
Maguire has come under fire this season for his loss of form for United and he has lost his spot as an automatic starter under Erik ten Hag.
But Southgate has always retained faith in the United captain, but now the debate will switch to whether the defender starts England’s first group game against Iran.
Rashford has not played for England since the final of Euro 2020, due to form and fitness issues, but has timed his comeback perfectly.
Shaw is the only specialist left-back at the club, with Ben Chilwell ruled out through injury and Kieran Trippier an option to cover in that area, as he did in the first game of Euro 2020, when England beat Croatia 1-0.
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