England Euro 2024 squad announcement LIVE: Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson axed as Adam Wharton called up

Eric Dier believes he is playing the best football of his career and warrants a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad.

The 30-year-old has been a regular for Bayern Munich since his eye-catching loan switch in January, having dropped down the pecking order at Tottenham where he made only four appearances under Ange Postecoglou.

Dier has impressed for the German giants but Southgate overlooked the 49-cap England defender for March’s final camp before naming his Euros squad.

“Obviously, I want to be a part of the England set-up and I believe that I should be a part of it, that I’m that level of a player,” Dier told The Overlap podcast.

“I haven’t spoken at all to Gareth Southgate, but you try and play as well as possible for your club and then the decision is out of your hands.

“Since the World Cup, I wouldn’t say that I’ve had any dip in form, I’m playing the best football of my career since (Antonio) Conte came (to Tottenham in 2021) and I’ve carried it on since I’ve been here, and I think I’ve shown that.

“People think that I’m 37 or something, but I’m 30 years-old and am nowhere near the end of my prime and imagine that this will be my prime.

“When I look around the players I’ve played with in my career, like (Mousa) Dembele, (Jan) Vertonghen, (Toby) Alderweireld, (Hugo) Lloris – all these guys, they were 31, 32 and were playing their best football at Tottenham.”

Here’s a bit more on Adam Wharton, the Crystal Palace midfielder who is expected to be announced in the senior England squad for the first time today:

Reports are now surfacing that Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah is included in England’s initial squad, to be officially announced later today. The 21-year-old has been excellent this season coming into the Reds’ defence alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Notable inclusions

Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)

James Trafford (Burnley)

Luke Shaw (Manchester United)

Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)

Levi Colwill (Chelsea)

Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)

Curtis Jones (Liverpool)

Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)

Notable exclusions

Jordan Henderson (Ajax)

Ben Chilwell (Chelsea)

Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)

Ben Chilwell, who has now earned 21 caps since his international debut six years ago, reckons previous major tournament heartbreak can propel England even further this summer.

He said: “You have to take those moments and opportunities and use them to fuel you going forward.

“I think this group of players, what was a very young group then is more experienced now after a few tournaments since. We’ve got good experience that we can use to fuel us, motivate us and push us to go one step further this summer.”

In a complicated left-back situation, the injured Ben Chilwell will miss out today but the injured Luke Shaw will be included, according to the Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg – who also reports that West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen has made the training squad.

Does that mean Chilwell will not be included at Euro 2024, or could he still prove his fitness in time? I’m sure Gareth Southgate will be asked that question this afternoon.

And two more to note: Dean Henderson is set to be included as one of four goalkeepers, according to the Daily Mail. The others will be Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and James Trafford.

And Chelsea’s Levi Colwill has been selected among the defenders. The 21-year-old missed the past three months of action with a toe injury but did return to the Blues’ bench at the end of the season.

Good news for Palace fans, as their brilliant midfield duo Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze are in the training squad. Both players were integral to a seven-game unbeaten run to finish the season.

Marc Guehi, their defensive teammate, is also in despite only just returning to action from knee surgery.

Is that the end for Jordan Henderson’s international career? At 33, he has amassed 81 caps and played at six major tournaments, becoming crucial to Gareth Southgate both on the pitch and in the dressing room as vice-captain. But it seems like England are now looking to the future, with the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo perhaps a factor in any midfield shake-up at Euro 2024.

Whatever you think of Jordan Henderson and his move to Saudi Arabia, he has undoubtedly given his all for his country and been a vital part of England’s huge progress since the damned Hodgson era.

Harry Kane missed Bayern Munich’s final game of the Bundesliga season at Hoffenheim due to an ongoing back injury.

Kane’s absence will raise fears for England head coach Gareth Southgate as he is due to name his preliminary squad for next month’s European Championships today.

Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel said: “Harry is receiving treatment with his personal doctor – he’s no longer here and won’t travel to Hoffenheim.

“It was really a borderline decision in Madrid. We tried it with treatment and it got worse with every move that he made, so there was no chance for him participating in practice.”