‘We have to send a message that that isn’t how we do things’: Gareth Southgate tells England stars to behave themselves after axing Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood and reveals door is open for Jamie Vardy to return to the international scene
- Gareth Southgate fired a warning after axing Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood
- The pair have been dropped after they broke Covid-bubble rules in Iceland hotel
- Southgate called up Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Harvey Barnes and Bukayo Saka
- He has also re-opened the door for Leicester forward, Jamie Vardy, to return
- Southgate also responded to Jose Mourinho’s plea for his players to be rested
Gareth Southgate has fired a chilling warning to his England squad after dropping Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood following their Iceland shame.
As Sportsmail disclosed on Wednesday, Foden and Greenwood were omitted from the 30-man squad for the matches against Wales, Belgium and Denmark after they smuggled two women into the team hotel after last month’s win over Iceland.
Southgate, who also provided a pointed response to Jose Mourinho‘s stern remarks over his treatment of Harry Kane, has indicated the pair will be re-considered for selection in November. But he insists his decision to leave them out, including for the Under 21s, should serve as a reminder to his squad over the standards he expects.
Gareth Southgate fired a warning to his squad after axing Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood
Foden and Greenwood have been left out of the squad after being sent home from Iceland
The England boss said: ‘We have to send a message to all our players in our teams at every age level that that sort of thing isn’t how we do things.
‘Then we’ve got to rehabilitate these two boys. Young people will make mistakes.
‘These lads have suffered enough now. I can speak to them after this camp and it will be just be about their form then.’
Southgate also revealed he would remind his players at St George’s Park next week of their responsibilities.
‘We will discuss the shirt, what it means to wear the shirt and some reminders on how we work but that’s not a case of reading the riot act,’ he said.
Southgate also responded to Jose Mourinho’s remarks over his treatment of Harry Kane
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was handed his debut call-up along with Harvey Barnes and Bukayo Saka yesterday after his excellent eight-goal start to the season for Everton.
The 23-year-old striker can expect to make his debut sometime next week but Southgate has re-opened the door for Jamie Vardy to return.
The Leicester forward, 33, stood down from international duty after the 2018 World Cup but has continued to score prolifically in the Premier League.
Southgate said: ‘We know that Jamie is still around and we still communicate a lot. I think at this moment we are in agreement that it’s good to keep looking at these younger players. But I’m not in any way ruling him out if it’s the right thing at the right time.’
While Dominic Calvert-Lewin was called-up along with Harvey Barnes and Bukayo Saka
Southgate also turned the tables on Tottenham manager Mourinho, who claimed the England boss has a duty to restrict the participation of his players — particularly Kane — over the coming days because of fatigue.
With next summer’s Euros in mind, Southgate said Mourinho needed to look after the striker for England towards the end of the season, before adding: ‘That obviously works both ways.’
Southgate also revealed he has held peace talks with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the Manchester United boss criticised his handling of Greenwood. ‘I have spoken to Ole,’ Southgate said. ‘We have talked it through and are very much on the same page. We want to look after the young players.’
Southgate has re-opened the door for Leicester forward, Jamie Vardy, to return to the squad