England: Gareth Southgate eager to have closer look at wildcard Adam Wharton

Gareth Southgate has hailed the "incredible rise" of Crystal Palace teenager Adam Wharton and says he cannot wait to find out more about the midfielder.

Wharton was on Tuesday the wildcard pick in Southgate's provisional 33-man squad for the European Championship, capping a remarkable season for the 19-year-old, who joined Palace from Blackburn in January.

With Jordan Henderson snubbed, Kalvin Phillips injured and James Ward-Prowse overlooked again, there is a vacancy in England's midfield, and Southgate says Wharton, Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo, 19, and uncapped Liverpool player Curtis Jones could all benefit.

"It has been an incredible rise," the England manager said of Wharton. "If you look at him and Mainoo five or six months ago, I don't think any of us would think we would be talking in this way.

"The two boys have played well. [Wharton is] a good technician, he can handle the ball really well. We are keen to find out more about him."

The omissions of Henderson and Marcus Rashford were Southgate's biggest calls, while he also included young defenders Jarell Quansah and Jarrad Branthwaite.

"We have always tried to find room for emerging players," Southgate said. "I know people have always said we have got our favourites, but circumstances change.

"The job is about making difficult decisions at certain times. You can't shy away from that. I don't think I ever have."

Gareth Southgate

Conor Gallagher and Trent Alexander-Arnold are now the most experienced contenders to play next to Declan Rice, although Southgate said using Jude Bellingham deeper "is an option".

The manager admitted Rice had been left exposed by the absence of an established alternative and revealed he had spent the last few months considering the doomsday scenario of an injury to the Arsenal enforcer.

"We don't have another Rice-type profile of player," he said. "I've been thinking, 'Declan with who?' and, 'Who if [we are] without Declan?'"