England boss Southgate sends stark World Cup warning to Sancho and Rashford

Gareth Southgate has warned Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw that they will need to have great starts to next season if they are to stand any chance of being a part of the World Cup squad.

Manchester United endured a terrible season last term, finishing on their lowest ever Premier League points tally with just 58, and it meant some players lost their spot in the England set-up as a result. Rashford hasn’t played for the Three Lions since missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, while Sancho has managed just one appearance following the heart-breaking defeat in which he also missed in the shootout.

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Both players had underwhelming seasons at Old Trafford, with Rashford registering his worst goal tally since his debut campaign, as Sancho struggled to adapt since his big-money move from Borussia Dortmund. With England having so many attacking options, they have both fallen down the pecking order.

Shaw has continued to be picked by Southgate after his brilliant displays in the tournament but isn’t in the current squad due to injury. Yet, he too seems to face an uphill battle to get into the squad, although left-back isn’t quite as well-stocked with Kieran Trippier filling in there in Saturday’s goalless draw with Italy.

When asked ahead of England’s final game of the international break against Hungary if United’s players would be fresher for November’s World Cup due to a lack of Champions League, Southgate gave a damning response. “We’ve only got one [United player] with us,” he said. “They’ve got a lot to do to get back in the squad.”

Captain Harry Maguire is currently United’s only representative in the England squad with Southgate keeping faith in the centre-back despite poor form domestically in the past season.