SQUAD GAME

Southgate wields the axe once more and says: I have tough decisions to make and dropping these players proves I do NOT have favourites

- JOHN CROSS

GARETH SOUTHGATE showed his ruthless streak ahead of the Euros - but insisted he needs to make tough calls to win it.

Southgate has been bold in picking his 33-man training squad of this summer's ahead tournaments by selecting three new call-ups and, incredibly, axing NINE players since the last World Cup.

Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Kalvin Phillips, Eric Dier, Conor Coady, Mason Mount, Ben White and Callum Wilson have all bitten the dust since Qatar.

Adam Wharton, Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah are the new names but this generally looks a younger, fresher-faced squad and arguably one that is the choice of a manager planning for a longer-term future.

England boss Southgate, whose contract expires in December, insisted that was nothing to do with making those big calls but did laugh off the old accusation that he just picks his favourites.

"I always use Arsene Wenger's quote to me on this, 'You must always manage as if you're going to be there forever but in the knowledge that you could be sacked the following day'. That's football," said Southgate.