Gareth Southgate explains why James Maddison isn't in England's Nations League squad

Gareth Southgate insists there’s no need to rush stars like James Maddison into England’s senior team.

And he wants the likes of the Leicester midfielder, plus Phil Foden and Mason Mount, to have the chance of winning the Under-21 Championships in Italy this summer to bolster their tournament experieince.

It was thought Southgate might draft in some of the Under-21s’ best youngsters for the Nations League finals in Portugal next month – especially as Liverpool , Tottenham , Chelsea and Arsenal are contesting both European Finals.

But Southgate resisted the urge when naming his 27-man provisional squad this week.

Southgate says “We’ve taken so many players from the under-21s early that we wanted the likes of Foden, Maddison, Mount, Wan-Bissaka, Sessegnon, to have a tournament together.

“It will be good for them to get that tournament experience again. We think, for them, that is the next stage of their development.

“Myself and Steve Holland will be going to that tournament and we will have some training sessions with that group over the next couple of weeks. So it’s a really joined-up view to the future.

“We’re also mindful that we don’t need to rush the under-21s.

“If they’re progressing well, we’ll move them if there’s the opportunity and it’s the right thing.

“But there’s no disgrace for them in being with that under-21 group.

“The stronger that group are, the higher the level of their training will be and they should enjoy their tournament this summer.”