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England suffer Greenwood setback ahead of European Championship

Mason Greenwood, England
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Ahead of Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad announcement, Manchester United star Mason Greenwood has pulled out.

Manchester United have announced Mason Greenwood’s withdrawal from the England squad due to an ‘underlying injury’.

Gareth Southgate had selected Greenwood in his provisional 33-man squad for this summer’s European Championship. The Three Lions boss will omit seven players from his final 26-man list on Tuesday. And one of them, albeit by his own choosing, is Greenwood.

The 19-year-old has withdrawn in favor of focusing on a full recovery from an unspecified injury that has troubled him throughout the 2020/21 season with United. It also prevented him from taking part in England’s U-21 European Championship in March.

“Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood has withdrawn from the provisional England Euro 2020 squad, in order to recover fully from an underlying injury that also kept him out of the Under-21 European Championship in March,” read a club statement.

“Mason’s club appearances were managed carefully to maintain his availability through the intensive 2020-21 Premier League and Europa League schedules.

“But a further spell of tournament football would not be beneficial and Mason will remain at Manchester United to recuperate and prepare for pre-season training.”

Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins could now become Southgate’s third-choice striker in the England squad behind captain Harry Kane and Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

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