Jarell Quansah observation leaves Wayne Rooney 'feeling sorry' for Liverpool star

Wayne Rooney has criticized Gareth Southgate for his handling of Jarrell Quansah after calling the Liverpool youngster up for England's provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024.

The center-back was selected by his country's senior side for the first time in his professional career but was one of seven names cut for the final squad for the tournament. Alongside stars including Jack Grealish, Curtis Jones and James Maddison, the Reds academy graduate will not feature in Germany this summer.

However, Quansah was the only man from the group that was snubbed by Southgate who stayed with the team for England's friendly with Iceland. Now, former Three Lions captain Rooney has posited that the decision to keep the starlet with the 23 players who made the final squad.

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The Liverpool youngster may have been asked to stick around for the team's warm-up game at Wembley but he was not called upon to make his debut in the game. As England fell to a 1-0 home defeat in the dress rehearsal before the tournament, Rooney was left baffled that Quansah was not just told to go home when he was informed that he was not in the final 23.

The ex-Manchester United and Everton star said: "I think Gareth should have sent them all home [after telling them they won’t be picked]. He kept Quansah there and I watched him after the game, I was on the side of the pitch doing TV, and I watched every player walk around the pitch after the game. As soon as the final whistle went Quansah goes in.

"Straight away you have a split. He has probably seen nobody got injured, and I felt for him, as he was probably in having a shower and leaving and he was the only one there. I think Gareth should have said 'go home, if there is an injury be ready', and give them that 24 or 48 hours, 'if anyone gets injured I’ll call you, otherwise go on your holidays'."

Southgate explained his decision before the game, saying: "Jarell has stayed with us. He hasn't had the experience of being at an England international at Wembley, so I think it will be great for him to be with us for that game. We will go from there and hopefully we won't need to call anyone else in."

Quansah has made appearances for England in every age group from the U-16s right through to the U-21s and formed part of his country's triumphant team at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2022. After making his U-21s bow last year, he has made four outings for the Young Lions.

Last season was something of a breakout season for the talented defender, who made 33 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club. The Warrington-born prospect scored three goals last term and also earned a winner's medal for his role in the Reds' EFL Cup win last term.