Gareth Southgate has no doubt that Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw are injured, despite Jose Mourinho appearing to question the validity of the Manchester United defenders' absence. Sunday's 3-1 win at Swansea was a timely boost for United ahead of the international break, albeit not one that entirely lifted the manager's mood
Chris Smalling (left) has been dealing with a foot complaint while Luke Shaw has been suffering with discomfort in the leg that was horrifically fractured back in September last year. Pic/Getty Images. Inseet: Gareth Southgate
Chris Smalling (left) has been dealing with a foot complaint while Luke Shaw has been suffering with discomfort in the leg that was horrifically fractured back in September last year. Pic/Getty Images. Inseet: Gareth Southgate
London: Gareth Southgate has no doubt that Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw are injured, despite Jose Mourinho appearing to question the validity of the Manchester United defenders' absence. Sunday's 3-1 win at Swansea was a timely boost for United ahead of the international break, albeit not one that entirely lifted the manager's mood.
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Mourinho explained that England defenders Smalling and Shaw did not feel in a condition to play at the Liberty Stadium, making them the most likely targets of his barbed post-match comments.
The questioning of the players' pain threshold would suggest they were only suffering minor issues, so Smalling and Shaw were conspicuous by their absence when Southgate named his England squad.
The interim Three Lions boss said it was a "club matter" yet has no doubt the duo are injured, ruling them out of the Scotland and Spain matches. "They didn't play, so there's a medical issue. Chris hasn't played for the last four games. We have really good relationships, medical-to-medical, with all clubs," Southgate said.
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