Ben Chilwell returns early to Chelsea training after Euro 2024 snub as England struggle with left back crisis
BEN CHILWELL is back in Chelsea training amid England’s huge problems at left-back.
The 27-year-old, who has been capped 21 times by the Three Lions, was not chosen by Gareth Southgate for Euro 2024.
Chilwell was snubbed after struggling with injury throughout the season.
He managed just nine starts in the Premier League and last made an appearance for just two minutes back in April.
Chilwell featured in just one of Chelsea‘s last ten games as an illness and a knee problem kept him in the treatment room.
But the ex-Leicester star is now back in training ahead of a comeback in the new season.
He was spotted at Chelsea’s Cobham training base alongside Trevoh Chalobah and new signing Tosin Adarabioyo.
Meanwhile, England are dealing with a crisis on the left-hand side of defence at the Euros.
Kieran Trippier has started all four games there as a makeshift option, while Luke Shaw continues his recovery from a hamstring issue.
In the dramatic 2-1 win over Slovakia, Southgate made radical changes as Bukayo Saka filled in at left-back.
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And in the bore draw with Slovenia, Kyle Walker finished the game on the left flank after Trippier was substituted.
But there is hope that Shaw will return for the quarter-final against Switzerland on Saturday.
He was named on the bench for the win over Slovakia and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford revealed after the final whistle: “He was ready to come. But I’m not the manager. He’s ready, Luke says he’s ready.”
England's five-point penalty shootout plan
EXPERT football psychologist Professor Geir Jordet has told Gareth Southgate and his players what they can do to give themselves the best chance of victory in any shootouts.
And he has even thrown in a rogue, bold suggestion for the Three Lions manager…
1. START PLANNING LAST YEAR
“It’s about planning for the opposition’s penalty takers but also ‘how do we win the psychological game against each opponent?’
2. SMART SOUTHGATE LEADERSHIP
“Southgate will have two minutes to influence his players as effectively as possible, show he has a plan and get confidence across.”
3. DICTATE AS A TEAM
“A shootout is really a team performance. Have the goalkeeper walk with the penalty taker into the penalty area to basically create a two-versus-one against the other goalkeeper. Dominate the centre circle, support the players who missed.”
4. ‘BULLETPROOF’ INDIVIDUAL ROUTINES
“Have really good, individualised and rehearsed pre-shot routines that are bulletproof and polished so they’re more likely to be able to resist the stress and more likely to score.”
5. SHOOT YOUR SHOT
“Practise the shot itself, trying to simulate penalty shootouts in training. Even recreating 20 per cent of a Euros final penalty shootout is going to have a benefit for your performance.”
AND A JOR DROPPING IDEA…
Jordan Pickford is the No1 but Dean Henderson actually has a far better penalty record – saving 8/22 (36 per cent) compared to Pickford’s 8/62 (13 per cent).
Jordet said: “One could consider making a late substitution for a penalty shootout. I doubt that they dare to do it in case it fails and the pressure is even higher but it would be a very ballsy move.”