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The England and Wales players who could benefit from Euro 2020 postponement

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  • Post published:March 18, 2020

The year-long delay to the European Championships due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will be seen by the majority as a disappointment.

But for some, the enforced postponement could present an opportunity to be involved in the finals next summer with their participation having initially been in doubt.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the players from qualified home nations England and Wales who could now feature at Euro 2021.

ENGLAND

Harry Kane

England captain Harry Kane could have missed Euro 2020 after injuring himself playing for Spurs.
England captain Harry Kane could have missed Euro 2020 after injuring himself playing for Spurs. (Steven Paston/PA)

The serious hamstring injury suffered by the Tottenham striker gave Kane’s chances of leading England into the European Championships a huge blow. He is back in light training now, but would have faced a fight to be fit for the Three Lions opener in June.

Marcus Rashford

Like Kane, Rashford looked like giving manager Gareth Southgate an injury headache.
Like Kane, Rashford looked like giving manager Gareth Southgate an injury headache. (Mike Egerton/PA)

With Kane potentially sidelined, eyes turned to Manchester United forward Rashford for the big hope of being England’s first-choice striker at the finals. But, after suffering a double stress fracture in his back, the 22-year-old had his own battle to be available to Gareth Southgate.

Mason Greenwood

Mason Greenwood has shone on several of his United appearances this season.
Mason Greenwood has shone on several of his United appearances this season. (Martin Rickett/PA)

While Rashford’s injury may have opened the door to an unexpected senior call-up for team-mate Greenwood, his lack of experience would likely have seen the 18-year-old overlooked this summer, Now, though, the highly rated forward has another 12 months to hone his craft.

Tammy Abraham

Tammy Abraham is another striker who has had his injury concerns of late.
Tammy Abraham is another striker who has had his injury concerns of late. (Nick Potts/PA)

Yet another England striker who has been struggling with injury is Chelsea’s Abraham. A number of niggling injuries have curtailed what started as a fine season at Stamford Bridge but he will now be hoping for an uninterrupted run-up to the rearranged finals.

Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka has impressed while playing out of position at Arsenal.
Bukayo Saka has fired while playing out of position at Arsenal. (Adam Davy/PA)

A bright spark in a fairly ordinary season for Arsenal has been the form of England youth international Saka. Capped at U19 level, the winger has found himself operating at left back for the Gunners and has shone in the role – if he can keep his place at club level he may yet have an outside chance of doing enough to demand the attention of Southgate.

WALES

Joe Allen

A ruptured Achilles was set to rule Stoke midfielder out of Euro 2020.
A ruptured achilles was set to rule Stoke midfielder out of Euro 2020. (Nick Potts/PA)

Allen was ruled out of Euro 2020 after rupturing his achilles playing for Stoke on 7 March. The 30-year-old midfielder, who was named in the official Euro 2016 team of the tournament and is integral to the way Wales operate, now has time to get fit for the rescheduled European Championship.

Neco Williams

Neco Williams will now have another 12 months to develop at Liverpool and look to force his way into the Wales squad.
Neco Williams will now have another 12 months to develop at Liverpool and look to force his way into the Wales squad. (Martin Rickett/PA)

It was touch and go whether the Liverpool full back had enough time to force his way into Ryan Giggs’ Euro 2020 squad after just a handful of impressive first-team performances. But the 18-year-old could now really push his case in the next 12 months, be it getting more game time at Anfield or going out on loan.

David Brooks

Bournemouth's David Brooks is back in training following a long-term ankle issue but may have still missed out this summer.
Bournemouth’s David Brooks is back in training following a long-term ankle issue but may have still missed out this summer. (Mike Egerton/PA)

Brooks has missed the entire campaign after undergoing ankle surgery in August. The exciting Bournemouth forward is training again but was in a race against time to be 100% for Euro 2020. The tournament’s delay should allow Brooks to recapture the form that made him one of the Premier League’s brightest talents in 2018-19.

Hal Robson-Kanu

Hal Robson-Kanu made himself available for international selection once again and will look to make sure he is selected next year.
Hal Robson-Kanu made himself available for international selection once again and will look to make sure he is selected next year. (Steven Paston/PA)

The West Brom striker recently made himself available again for Wales after retiring from international football in August 2018 to focus on his club career. A recall this summer was unlikely as Giggs was set to keep faith with the players who secured qualification, but the 30-year-old now has more time to reintegrate himself into the squad.

Ben Cabango

Ben Cabango has broken into the Swansea side and now has a year to catch the full attention of Wales boss Ryan Giggs.
Ben Cabango has broken into the Swansea side and now has a year to catch the full attention of Wales boss Ryan Giggs. (Nigel French/PA)

The 19-year-old Swansea central defender made his league debut in November and has been a revelation. Time was not on Cabango’s side this summer, but another season of first-team football could propel him on to the international stage. There has even been talk of a future Wales partnership with his Swansea teammate Joe Rodon.