Harry Maguire is back in England training... but the key defender is set to miss the Three Lions' first TWO Euro 2020 group games with Gareth Southgate not considering him for opener with Croatia on Sunday
- Harry Maguire finally returned to England training on Thursday after an injury
- The defender was out injured for the final weeks of Manchester United's season
- Gareth Southgate is set to be without Maguire for the first two Euro 2020 games
- Maguire is expected to return as a substitute for the third match on June 22
- Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here.
Gareth Southgate is almost certain to ignore Harry Maguire for Sunday's Euro 2020 clash against Croatia despite the defender's return to full training.
The Manchester United skipper is resigned to missing the opening game and next Friday's clash against Scotland.
Maguire is targeting a return, most likely as a substitute, in the final group game against the Czech Republic in 11 days' time.
Gareth Southgate will not pick Harry Maguire for England's first Euro 2020 group matches
The centre-back returned to England outdoor training on Thursday ahead of Sunday's opener
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The central defender — who has not played since May 9 — took a significant step in his recovery from an ankle ligament injury by training on Thursday.
But barring an unexpected twist, he is not in contention to face Croatia and there are concerns about throwing him back into a potentially bruising match against Scotland.
England players have been left in the dark about how Southgate plans to set up his team against Croatia.
Sportsmail revealed last week that England would experiment in training with a back three, and, as we reported on Thursday, full back Luke Shaw has been looked at in a three-man central defence.
Gareth Southgate has been experimenting with different options ahead of the Croatia tie
However, Southgate is understood to have switched between playing three at the back and a conventional four-man defence at St George's Park over the past 48 hours.
But with just two training sessions before the clash against Croatia, Southgate's plans are likely to become much clearer on Friday.
Bukayo Saka is unlikely to start on Sunday, despite scoring his first England goal in the win over Austria, but the Arsenal attacker insists he is ready to make a starting role his own if he gets the chance.
Saka said: 'For the manager, it is going to be difficult to pick the starting XI with the amount of quality we have in this team.
'I don't know what holds for the starting team in the first, second and third game. All I know is that if I get my opportunity I'll take it and give a positive performance.'
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