Southgate Frustrated Over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Absence for England

England manager Gareth Southgate has voiced his frustration at the unavailability of Trent Alexander-Arnold for national duty during the current international break. The Liverpool right-back has been sidelined since sustaining a knee injury on February 10, leaving a void that Southgate hoped to explore with potential midfield experimentation.

The absence of Alexander-Arnold, a pivotal figure for both club and country, has been keenly felt as England continue their preparations for the upcoming European Championship. Despite this setback, Southgate’s team faced Brazil in a recent fixture and is set to challenge Belgium on Tuesday, offering opportunities to refine tactics and strategies ahead of the tournament.

Southgate expressed his disappointment at missing the chance to evaluate Alexander-Arnold’s midfield capabilities, citing the uncertainty surrounding the transition from full-back to midfield. The England manager lamented the lack of high-level exposure for this potential positional shift, emphasizing the complexity and specialization required for midfield play.

Acknowledging the significant differences between playing full-back and midfield, Southgate remains eager to explore Alexander-Arnold’s adaptability. However, the final opportunity to trial this transition will likely occur in June during friendlies against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland, just before the Euros kick off.

With Alexander-Arnold’s absence prolonging the uncertainty, Southgate remains determined to assess and potentially integrate the Liverpool star’s midfield talents into the England setup.