OLD PALS AXE

Merciless Southgate on why it is now time to get tough with England

- John Cross

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

Southgate has been bold in picking his 33-man training squad ahead of this summer's tournament by making three new call-ups and 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 Southgate, manager whose contract expires in December, insisted that had nothing to do with making those big calls but did laugh off the old accusation that he just picks his favourites.