Euro 2024 final: Luke Shaw tipped to make first start in five months as Gareth Southgate plots shake-up

Gareth Southgate is expected to make just one audacious change to his England starting 11 tonight by deploying Luke Shaw from the offset, as per The Telegraph.

The Three Lions are currently undergoing their last preparations in Berlin ahead of tonight’s highly-anticipated final against Spain, with kick-off penned in for 8pm.

Having conceded first in their past three matches, England are seeking added stability in the backline, and it’s one that’s been largely makeshift for the majority of the tournament due to Shaw’s prolonged absence.

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Southgate opted to call up the experienced left-back despite him being out of action since February for Manchester United; his last outing was a Premier League win over Luton Town on February 18, during which he was substituted at the halfway stage for a second consecutive game.

It’s thought that Shaw sustained some form of a setback in his rehabilitation while in Germany, as he ended up missing the entirety of the group stage and the last 16. He has since made two appearances off the bench – against Switzerland and the Netherlands – and is now in line to make his first start in five months when Harry Kane leads the team out at the Olympiastadion this evening.

In turn, deputising wing-back Kieran Trippier will drop to the bench.