England boss Gareth Southgate says defender Luke Shaw is available to start against Switzerland in their Euro 2024 quarter final on Saturday.
Shaw has not played since February due to injury but was named in the England squad for the Euros.
He has not featured for Southgate’s side yet but has been working up his fitness and the England manager says the Manchester United left-back is now available from the start.
“Luke is available, he is available to start, but Kieran (Trippier) has also done a brilliant job for the team,” Southgate said.
“He obviously doesn’t give us that balance that a natural left-footer can give you, but his leadership, his communication on the pitch – if you ask any of the wingers who play with him or the players who play alongside him, his talking is phenomenal.
“It helps them to play the game. It is a much undervalued quality. It is a bit of a dying art, really, good talkers on the pitch.
“You can’t have enough of them. He has exceptional qualities in that area as well as some quality on the ball. He has adapted and done a brilliant, brilliant job for us.”
England take on a Switzerland side who knocked out Italy in the round of 16 and Southgate says there can be no complacency from his team.
“I would say that is a classic example of the entitlement we have as a nation that creates drama and annoys our opponents,” Southgate said when asked if England were on the easier side of the draw.
“We are playing a really strong football nation who have played well, are prepared and have pride. Our focus is on how to we win this game and play to the best of our ability.
“We have never been to a final outside England, only had two in our history. So lots of nations who we might perceive to be smaller have had far better records than us in terms of winning things of getting to latter stages, it is half of the problem we have.
“But we are ready for tomorrow and have huge respect for our opponents and have to be at our very best to win the game.”