Only one Manchester United player was named in Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad which was announced on Tuesday, with just Harry Maguire selected.
Receiving an England snub instead of a cap were three players who made the Euro 2020 squad last summer, Luke Shaw, Jadon Sancho, and Marcus Rashford.
Shaw’s exclusion was fitness related, he is still likely to make the World Cup. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho’s places at the tournament are more uncertain.
In the short-term, being left out of this England squad is a benefit to Manchester United’s players.
England snub helps Sancho, Shaw and Rashford
The England snub helps the Manchester United trio, allowing them to come straight in to train with Erik ten Hag’s new regime from the very first moment.
United begin pre-season training as early as June 27. But not all the players will be present.
Those involved in June’s international fixtures will be delayed by a week, at least, as new manager Erik ten Hag explained.
Ten Hag told United’s website: “We will start pre-season on 27 June and I will get a few of the squad, of the individual players.”
“Not all the players will be coming in [on 27 June], because the ones who play internationals will have a longer break, because they play longer in this current season.”
Sancho, Shaw, and Rashford can all now link up with United at the earliest possible opportunity.
This gives each of them extra time to learn from Erik ten Hag and his coaching team, and increased chance to impress, and ingratiate themselves as key players in the managers’ plans.
After shaky seasons, all three of the players can benefit from the extra time with the new manager, and this England snub works in their favour, and to the benefit of the team.
This could be significant for all concerned, and work well for their international chances too. If each of them can rediscover their form at club level, then England calls for the World Cup will surely follow.
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