England boss Southgate drafted in a day early to face media and address Sterling and Gomez bust-up

GARETH SOUTHGATE will hold a press conference this afternoon to explain his axing of Raheem Sterling.

Southgate will give the reasons behind his decision to axe Manchester City star Sterling from his plans for Thursday’s game as punishment for his clash with Joe Gomez.

Liverpool star Gomez has been left with a scratch beneath his right eye following the altercation in the canteen at St George’s Park on Monday.

Questions are likely to be asked about what exactly happened when Sterling lost his temper just a day after he had clashed with Gomez during City’s defeat at Liverpool.

And Southgate will also have to defend himself from criticism for making such a public dressing down of his player – with Rio Ferdinand accusing the manager of hanging Sterling out to dry.

There have been claims that instead of issuing a statement late on Monday night, Southgate should have got the players together and sorted the matter out behind closed doors.

But others believe he has shown his strength as boss by taking such swift and decisive action with one of his biggest stars.

Both players have reported for training together this morning and joined in with the rest of the England squad as usual.

Southgate is now trying to get his stars to focus on the job in hand – beating Montenegro to confirm their qualification for the Euros next summer.