Southampton: Ward-Prowse and Ings handed potential England boost

Southampton players James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings have been handed a potential England boost ahead of this summer’s European Championships.

This is because UEFA have announced that squads for the delayed Euro 2020 will be increased from 23 players to 26, with unlimited changes allowed after the squad submission date of 1st June if injuries or illness affect preparations.

With three extra places available in the England camp this summer, both players will be keen to show their best form in the latter stages of the season.

Ings is out injured at the moment but could return for the final three or four league games, whilst Ward-Prowse has been ever-present for Saints in 2020/21.

Improved selection chances for Southampton pair

Getting into the England squad is certainly harder than it once was. The emergence of many top quality players in a five-year period means Gareth Southgate has a wealth of options to choose from.

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However, the form of Ings and Ward-Prowse has not gone unnoticed. Both have had starts for their country in this campaign and both managed to score their first international goals against Wales and San Marino respectively.

England may well choose to have an extra defender, midfielder and forward because it appears that they are able to swap goalkeepers out freely ahead of each match. A 23-man group must be chosen from the 26 to attend each fixture, but the Saints duo in question have got a good chance to prove their worth now.

Southgate has always been a fan of Ward-Prowse and had him as his captain at Under-21s level, and the fact he was included in the most recent camp for three World Cup Qualifiers shows he is well in the reckoning right now.

Ings will be more on the fringes of plans having had an inconsistent season – injuries and poor Saints form as a collective have seen him unable to reach the heights of his 2019/20 performances. There are also plenty of players ahead of him who have shown form for Champions League clubs.

If both players contribute to a successful end to the Premier League season though, anything is surely possible.