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Defensive options for Southgate? <\/strong><\/p>\n John Stones\u2019 injury has given England manager Gareth Southgate the chance to explore his centre-back options in the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, writes Carl Markham<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n The City defender was forced off with a problem in Tuesday\u2019s Champions League win over Young Boys with boss Pep Guardiola admitting it is \u201cdeep bad news\u201d.<\/p>\n But with qualification for the summer\u2019s tournament in Germany already secured, Southgate can afford to look at his back-up options.<\/p>\n Brighton captain Lewis Dunk <\/strong>and AC Milan\u2019s Fikayo Tomori<\/strong> started together in last month\u2019s friendly win over Australia but Crystal Palace\u2019s Marc Guehi <\/strong>was the man Southgate opted to replace Stones for the final 27 minutes against Italy and has the most caps of the trio.<\/p>\n Injuries to Ben Chilwell <\/strong>and Luke Shaw<\/strong> meant Kieran Trippier filled in at left-back against Italy but Chelsea\u2019s Levi Colwill <\/strong>started against Australia and could be another one to benefit from any experimentation.<\/p>\n Colwill\u2019s club captain Reece James<\/strong> could be in for a recall having returned from injury. <\/p>\n John Stones is set to miss out <\/p>\n England players have only four more international games in which to impress Gareth Southgate before the manager names his squad for Euro 2024.<\/p>\n Southgate\u2019s team qualified for the tournament, which will be hosted by Germany next summer, with a stylish 3-1 win over reigning champions Italy at Wembley Stadium, the venue for that agonising shootout defeat by the Azzurri in 2021.<\/p>\n Now England can look ahead to the Euros, with two final qualifiers against Group C minnows Malta and North Macedonia to come in November, before two friendlies at Wembley in the spring.<\/p>\n Competition for places is fierce, made even more so by Uefa\u2019s announcement that squads will return to containing 23 players, after 26 had been allowed for the Covid-affected Euro 2020 and at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n Lawrence Ostlere takes a closer look at who is heading to Germany and who might miss out.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n A closer look at which England players are heading to Germany for Euro 2024 and who might miss out on the final 23 <\/p>\n Bowen and Watkins to keep their places? <\/strong><\/p>\n Jarrod Bowen and Ollie Watkins were the headline selections last time after their impressive starts to the Premier League season. Bowen has made Premier League history by scoring in six away games in a row for West Ham since the start of the campaign, while Watkins scored against Australia at Wembley after Southgate\u2019s pick. <\/p>\n Sterling\u2019s return? <\/strong><\/p>\n Only Harry Kane has scored more goals for England under Gareth Southgate than Raheem Sterling, but the forward has not been in a squad since the World Cup – a year ago. <\/p>\n Sterling has scored two goals in the five games since the last squad – is this enough to merit a return, or has Southgate made his mind up already in what is a competitive area of the team? <\/p>\n Kane, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, James Maddison, Eddie Nketiah, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Ollie Watkins were named in a 26-man squad last time out. <\/p>\n When are England\u2019s matches?<\/strong><\/p>\n Friday 17 November 2023, 7.45pm GMT, Wembley Stadium, London<\/em><\/p>\n England vs Malta (Euro 2024 qualifier)<\/p>\n Monday 20 November 2023, 7.45pm GMT, Tose Proeski Arena, Skopje<\/em><\/p>\n North Macedonia vs England (Euro 2024 qualifier)<\/p>\n How can I watch them?<\/strong><\/p>\n Both matches will be shown live in the United Kingdom on Channel 4, and will be available to stream via the Channel 4 website.<\/p>\n When is England\u2019s squad announced?<\/strong><\/p>\n Gareth Southgate will name his England squad at 2pm GMT on Thursday 9 November.<\/p>\n Gareth Southgate names his latest England squad this afternoon ahead of qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia as the Three Lions continue their preparations ahead of Euro 2024.<\/p>\n There are just four games to go before Southgate announces his 23-player squad for next summer\u2019s tournament, which England qualified for last month thanks to a 3-1 win over Italy at Wembley.<\/p>\n With qualification secured, England will now look to seal top spot in the group and earn a seeded position ahead of the Euro 2024. But with matches against Malta and North Macedonia (ranked 171st and 66th in the Fifa rankings respectively), Southgate also has the chance to look at some of his back-up options.<\/p>\n John Stones is set to miss out after picking up an injury this week while all eyes will be on Raheem Sterling and whether his improved form for Chelsea has earned the forward his first selection since the World Cup.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/11\/08\/07\/GettyImages-1780973823.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEngland squad announcement LIVE: Latest updates<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nEngland\u2019s Euro 2024 squad: Who\u2019s on the plane and who has work to do?<\/h3>\n
England squad announcement LIVE: Latest updates<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nEngland squad announcement LIVE: Latest updates<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nEngland squad announcement LIVE: Latest updates<\/h3>\n
England squad announcement LIVE: Latest updates<\/h3>\n
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