Gareth Southgate hands huge blow to Luke Shaw's Euro 2024 hopes

England manager Gareth Southgate has admitted Manchester United's Luke Shaw is unlikely to play a major role at this summer's European Championships.

Shaw, Southgate's preferred left-back when fit, is currently out with a muscle injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for the vast majority of the remainder of the Premier League season, if not the entire campaign.

Even if Shaw is back available for Euro 2024, Southgate believes the United left-back is not going to be physically capable of playing significant minutes this summer.

"He's going to be right on the edge of the season," Southgate said. "We know now to play seven matches in a Euros is highly unlikely."

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell started in Shaw's place during the recent friendly 1-0 defeat to Brazil, and while Southgate defended the 27-year-old after a tricky display, he acknowledged that Shaw is his preferred starter.

"I thought Ben defended really well and it was an important game for him," he explained. "I don't want to kill Ben. But Luke's one of the best left-backs in world football, frankly."

United boss Erik ten Hag recently confessed it will be "difficult" for Shaw to play again this season but left the door open to a potential return for "the last games" of the season.

Should Shaw fail his quest to recover in time for Euro 2024, Southgate faces a real headache when it comes to naming his squad. Chilwell is a natural replacement but the boss has often struggled beyond the Chelsea man.

The versatile Joe Gomez, a natural centre-back who has played out on the left for Liverpool this season, is deservedly back in the squad after a sensational run of form at club level, while Newcastle United right-back Kieran Trippier has often been used on the other side of the pitch.

READ MORE OF THE LATEST ENGLAND NEWS, QUOTES & MATCH PREVIEWS