Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones England Euro 2024 call-up SLAMMED
Four Liverpool players have been called up by Gareth Southgate for England’s pre-tournament camp ahead of the European Championship.
An initial group of 33 will be whittled down to 26 before the matches take place in Germany this summer, with the Three Lions facing Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in their three Group C clashes.
Four Liverpool players are among the current call-ups with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez the most established of the quartet in the international ranks, although by no means first choice.
Alexander-Arnold has got 23 caps, perhaps a surprisingly low total for a 25-year-old with his pedigree with younger players in the squad like Jude Bellingham (29), Bukayo Saka (32) and Phil Foden (33) already boasting more international appearances.
Gomez, 27, has got 13 caps to his name and made his debut as far back as 2017. Amid a crisis at left back, Southgate intimated this week that the versatile Anfield star could well feature there this summer.
Uncapped duo Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah, meanwhile, make up the rest of the Liverpool contingent.
Jones call-up questioned by Agbonlahor
Quansah’s initial call up is a reward for an impressive rookie season in which he fought his way from being Liverpool’s fifth-choice centre back to ending the campaign as a starter and the scorer of the final goal of the Jurgen Klopp era.
Southgate admitted that Jones was close to a summons for the international friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in March but an injury put paid to his chances.
Back fit, the 23-year-old now has a chance to make an impression before the final squad is named and amid high-profile dropouts - like Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips and Mason Mount - Jones has every chance of making the final midfield cut.
However, one former England international believes that Jones HASN’T done enough to merit a place on the plane. Following an injury-hit season, other players should be ahead of the homegrown talent, according to Gabriel Agbonlahor.
The former Aston Villa forward accused Jones of playing well in only one game in four and doesn’t think he will make it to Euro 2024.
“I don’t think Curtis Jones has done enough,” three-cap Agbonlahor told talkSPORT. “When I have watched Liverpool, he has been in and out of the side. He has one good game and three bad games.
“I don’t think Curtis Jones will be in the 26 [man final England squad].”