20 February 2024 , 01:00
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England boss Gareth Southgate is 'keeping tabs' on three uncapped midfielders ahead of next month's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
The Three Lions are back in action at the end of March as they ramp up their preparations for Euro 2024, which is set to get underway in June. England have four more friendlies - including two at the end of the domestic season - before they face Serbia in their first game at this summer's tournament.
However, Southgate will only get to see his players in action two more times ahead of selecting his 23-man squad, with Brazil and Belgium to come at Wembley next month. And the England boss is scouring around his midfield options as he considers potentially reshuffling his pack in that area.
According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo, Fulham's Harrison Reed and Everton's James Garner are being monitored, while West Ham's James Ward-Prowse is still on Southgate's ahead of a potential recall, almost two years since winning the last of his 11 England caps.
Mainoo has started in each of United's last 11 Premier League matches since breaking into XI, becoming an important member of the side in the process. Reed has been a steady force in Fulham's midfield, while Garner is an integral part of Everton's set up as they try and stay in the division this season.
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It comes amidst the worrying form of Kalvin Phillips at West Ham. The former Leeds midfielder moved to the London Stadium on loan from Manchester City in the January transfer window, but he has struggled since joining the Hammers in search of regular first-team game time.
(Michael Zemanek/REX/Shutterstock)After making a costly error on his debut against Bournemouth, Phillips was dropped for their next game at Manchester United. He was booked after coming on at half-time in the 6-0 drubbing by Arsenal, before being sent off in the 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Phillips was selected as one of four holding midfielders in Southgate's most recent England squad, with Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold also involved. But Southgate is now looking at other options as he continues to deliberate on who to pick as his midfielders.
Despite being given a red card at Forest, West Ham boss David Moyes was pleased with Phillips' performance, however. "We're getting him back," he said. "For long periods, he played well today. He's had a bad start but his performance today was good." Phillips will miss the Hammers' game against Brentford next Monday before being back in contention for the trip to Everton the following weekend.
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