Gareth Southgate has decided that Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah will not make his final squad for EURO 2024 in Germany.
The Liverpool duo were included in England's preliminary squad ahead of the tournament as Southgate selected 33 players to begin his preparations. Nations are allowed to take a 26-man squad into the competition.
The decision comes after news broke that Tottenham star James Maddison had also missed out on the cut and had left the squad ahead of England's friendly match against Iceland. Jones has also left the camp with the Three Lions' campaign is set to get underway against Serbia in 10 days time.
Southgate trained with 27 players on Thursday, with Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Lewis Dunk all undergoing individual programmes. Jude Bellingham is yet to participate in training due to his involvement in the Champions League final with Real Madrid.
A larger group has helped the England boss accommodate later arrivals from Manchester City and Manchester United as the FA Cup final extended their season.
It has also seen Southgate able to prepare while he waits upon the fitness of the likes of Shaw and Maguire. Neither Jones nor Quansah featured in England's friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Four more players face the axe by Friday's deadline. One of Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson and James Trafford are likely to miss out in the goalkeeper department, with the latter two figures most vulnerable.
Up front too, it could be a direct battle between Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins to earn the role of support for Harry Kane. Aston Villa forward Watkins was unable to net against Bosnia on Monday, while Toney was left on the bench.
The squad's defensive numbers may leave Jarrad Branthwaite and Joe Gomez sweating over their spots, while wildcard midfield pick Adam Wharton has impressed following a meteoric rise. The Crystal Palace star has pleased his international boss.
Southgate said: “We are really pleased with what he has done. It is, in terms of the importance of catching the eye, I guess a lot of that comes down to where we think we will need the positional cover, really but really impressed with how he has been.
“He is a very calm boy, he seems to have taken everything in his stride when you think of what the last year has been but when you talk to him, he is just pretty unflappable as he was on the pitch. That ability to receive and see a picture early isn’t something you should underestimate.”
Southgate has until Friday night to submit his final squad for the tournament
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