England and Scotland have been given a major boost ahead of Euro 2024, with UEFA set to approve a change to team rules this summer.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate will be over the moon to hear that UEFA is set to approve a rule change to the team’s Euro 2024 stipulations.
Indeed, countries will be allowed to name squads of 26 players ahead of this summer’s competition, an increase from the usual limit of 23 players, according to Aerial sports.
With England already having injury problems, this will be a major boost to their Euro 2024 hopes, as well as Scotland’s.
Southgate admitted last month that he had never experienced an injury crisis as national coach as he had previously with several players missing during friendlies against Belgium and Brazil.
This led the England manager to admit he may have to lend his voice to other coaches, who were demanding the squad size for the European Championship be increased from 23 to 26.
And it looks like Southgate will get his wish thanks to UEFA’s vote for the increase.
Previous tournaments such as the World Cup in Qatar and the final Euro tournament in 2021 saw squad numbers increase from 23 to 26, but only due to special circumstances.
The World Cup saw a surge midway through the season, meaning players were already being asked to play more matches, while Euro 2020 was delayed by a year due to COVID.
However, the change could continue for another international competition amid an injury crisis across the world.
England have been hit in recent weeks with several players sidelined, including Reece James, Marc Guehi, Levi Colwill, Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier, while there are fitness concerns with John Stones, Bukayo Saka and Harry Maguire.
Scotland are another nation who have faced injury problems, with manager Steve Clarke struggling with huge problems.
Everton ace Nathan Patterson, Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson and Southampton star Stuart Armstrong are all injured and expected to miss the tournament.
Clarke will nervously watch as Billy Gilmour, John McGinn, Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay attempt to stay fit ahead of the summer.
Southgate has already revealed he will name a “training squad” ahead of the tournament before downsizing, although he admitted he did not know how big that squad would be initially.
“It will really depend on the state of certain injuries and also on the number of players present in the European final,” he said last month.
“My preference is always for players to be clear on what their role is when they come in.”
England’s Euro 2024 campaign begins on June 16 when they take on Serbia while Scotland take on hosts Germany in the first match of the tournament on June 14.