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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Wheelock

Gareth Southgate gives Jordan Henderson England fitness update ahead of Man City v Liverpool

England boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has returned to training ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine on Sunday.

Henderson played no part in England's 2-1 triumph at Italy on Thursday night due to the illness that ruled the 74-capped midfielder out of Liverpool's Champions League round-of-16 second-leg clash at Real Madrid on March 15.

But he could come into contention for the visit of Ukraine to Wembley after Southgate revealed one of his key lieutenants is "good to go."

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That is also good news for Liverpool with the trip to defending champions Manchester City now just seven days away.

Southgate said: "He hadn't trained a lot the previous week, he'd had an illness, which was the reason he missed Liverpool's game the week before, so he was a little bit undercooked for that.

"But he's good now. He's good to go."

Henderson was a key part of the England side that reached the quarter-finals of the winter World Cup in Qatar, forming a midfield partnership with Declan Rice and Liverpool transfer target Jude Bellingham.

But with Southgate choosing not to risk the 32-year-old against Italy, the Three Lions boss instead turned to Kalvin Phillips, who has barely featured for Manchester City since his move from Leeds United last summer.

Rice opened the scoring before Harry Kane converted a penalty to become England's all-time record goalscorer. Mateo Retegui reduced the arrears in the second half but Italy could not find an equaliser despite Luke Shaw being sent off for two yellow cards.

The Manchester United left-back will be suspended against Ukraine. Chelsea right-back Reece James will also miss the match after withdrawing from the squad through injury.

But Southgate has confirmed he will not be calling up any players to replace James or Shaw. Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out of the original squad.

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