Gareth Southgate has declared Luke Shaw fit to start for England in their quarter-final with Switzerland on Saturday.
The Manchester United defender is yet to play a minute at the tournament after being sidelined since February with a long-term hamstring issue.
He returned to full training with team-mates ahead of the last-16 win over Slovakia in a bid to build up his fitness for the knockout rounds.
Southgate revealed Shaw is now ready to go if called upon but also pointed to the qualities of Kieran Trippier, the player who has deputised for Shaw throughout the competition to now.
“Well, Kieran Trippier’s been absolutely outstanding for us,” Southgate said when asked about Shaw’s availability ahead of the last-eight meeting in Dusseldorf.
“Luke is available, he’s available to start. But Kieran has also done a brilliant job for the team. He obviously doesn’t give us that balance, that a natural left-footer can give you.
“But his leadership, his communication on the pitch, if you ask any of the wingers that play with him, or the players that play alongside him, his talking is phenomenal, and that helps them to play the game.
“It’s a much under-valued quality, and it’s a dying art really, good talkers on the pitch, you can’t have enough of them. He has exceptional qualities in that area as well as some quality on the ball. He’s adapted and done a brilliant, brilliant job for us.”
It remains to be seen how much Shaw is involved — if at all — as Southgate ponders how to line his side up.
They have trained with a back three this week after starting each game so far with a four-man defence.
England and their manager have come under heavy pressure after a series of underwhelming performances in those games.
They topped Group C but did so after only one win and scoring two goals before being moments away from elimination at the hands of Slovakia last time out.
Jude Bellingham was the hero with an overhead-kick equaliser and is available for Switzerland after only being handed a suspended ban for a gesture he made following the goal.
GO DEEPER
Gareth Southgate and a back three: Can England switch systems against Switzerland?
(Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
