Luke Shaw is a major injury doubt for England’s final group clash against Slovenia on Tuesday, with the left-back also expected to miss Sunday’s training session.
The Manchester United star is not giving up hope of featuring in the tournament despite failing to recover from the hamstring injury that has prevented him from playing for five months.
But having missed today’s session at the team’s Weimar HQ, it is understood Shaw is also likely to miss training on Sunday too.
England medics will make a call on whether Shaw can participate in Monday’s training session but even if he is included, there seems little hope that he can play a part against Slovenia on Tuesday.
Shaw is yet to play a single minute of football here in Germany.
Luke Shaw is a major injury doubt for England’s final group clash against Slovenia on Tuesday
The England defender is expected to miss Sunday's training session as he continues his rehab
However, the Manchester United star is not giving up hope of featuring in the tournament
Mail Sport reported yesterday that there were emerging fears the defender’s anticipated return would be delayed even longer.
England medics, in communication with their United counterparts, had hoped Shaw would be available to come off the bench against Slovenia.
But if he misses the game against Slovenia then Southgate faces a tough decision on whether to include Shaw in his starting XIs for the knockout rounds given the prospect of instant elimination.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag claimed last weekend that Shaw wouldn’t be ready to play until the knockout stages, but Southgate was keen to get him on the field in one of the opening three games with a view to potential starting the left-back in the final stages of the tournament.
However, throwing Shaw into action during the elimination rounds would represent a major risk given he hasn’t played since February, which could see Southgate stick with Kieran Trippier, who has started the tournament at left-back.
England medics will make a call on whether Shaw can participate in Monday’s training session but even if he is included, there seems little hope that he can play a part against Slovenia
And if Shaw is limited to a peripheral role here in Germany, questions will be raised of Southgate’s decision not to bring another natural left-back such as Ben Chilwell or Tyrick Mitchell or leave the Old Trafford star out of the squad altogether.
Joe Gomez and Ezri Konsa could both play at left-back but neither have played a single minute here in Germany.