Gareth Southgate confirmed Manchester City’s quintet are available to face Malta, but the England boss is wary about the emotional impact of completing the treble and subsequent revelry.
Pep Guardiola’s men became the second team in English football history to complete the treble by beating Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul on Saturday.
City partied long into the night in Turkey and only halted their celebrations after Monday’s rain-soaked parade back in Manchester, with worse-for-wear Jack Grealish at the heart of things.
The playmaker reported for England duty at St George’s Park on Tuesday evening along with team-mates Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Kalvin Phillips.
They travelled to Malta for Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifier, but the emotional – and for some hedonistic – build-up raises questions over their availability.
“The first thing is they’re not on summer holiday,” Southgate said of the squad. “They’re all available, so everybody’s fit. We’ve obviously got a lot of considerations, particularly the boys that arrived later.
“They’ve not done the majority of the week’s training and coming off the back of massive emotional high.
“It’s always complicated, the decisions you have to make. This is never a straightforward week when you’re talking about international football.
“But the team have trained really well, the players that have been with us all week, especially, the focus has been excellent and we’re looking forward to the game now.”
On the City quintet, Southgate said: “I spoke with them when they arrived, firstly to say what an incredible achievement (it is) and huge congratulations to the whole club and to Pep. He’s done an incredible job to keep the team at the level he has for the whole season. It’s an amazing achievement.
“But we’re actually heading into the unknown here because there’s no way of knowing individually how they’re all going to react and respond to what they’ve been through.
“Huge emotion, celebration, need to get back into training, back in with the group, so we’re just going to have to take that bit by bit and see how they all are.
“They’re all available but I’ve got to decide whether that’s a good decision. We’ve also got strength in depth in a lot of those positions as well.”
Southgate’s pride at his players’ success with City was clear, but he kept his cards close to his chest when asked for his thoughts about the partying.
“I’m always monitoring everything the players do wherever they are, at whatever stage of the season,” he said. “We’re used to dealing with this Champions League scenario.
“It was probably even more complicated for us when Tottenham played Liverpool (in 2019) because we were then into the semi-final of the Nations League about three days later.
“We’ve had several difficult situations with that, but we know how to deal with it.
“We’re used to dealing with it, we know our players inside out and our focus is on the team now.
“I’ve said to the players, I now have to push them. They might not want to be pushed at this stage, that’s also individually we’ll find out where they are as we go through the week.
“But that’s my job. I’ve got to push the players now to get the results we need and, as we said to the wider group at the start, the responsibility lies with them.
“Initially this part of the week they’ve got to drive the team and get the performance we want.”
Southgate’s press conference at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium was delayed due to technical difficulties upon arriving in Malta, with his 24-man squad forced to wait on the tarmac.
Eberechi Eze is among the travelling side and hoping to make his debut on Friday, as is England Under-21s international Levi Colwill, who joined the group after initially being brought into train with them this week.
The pair are among those that have had to pause their post-season break at the end of a mammoth season for international duty, but Kieran Trippier says the team are fully focused.
“It was important obviously that the lads had a break,” the Newcastle right-back said. “Coming into the England set-up, it’s always a proud moment for all of us to get going again.
“When you say it’s been a long season, but for us players there’s nothing better… (we’re) proud to represent our country.
“We know what the goal is, to try and reach a Euros and we’ve had a good week training to prepare for this game.
“The lads are playing really well. We know it’s going to be a challenge tomorrow, but it’s one I’m ready for.”
Fulham 0-4 Manchester City: Gvardiol double helps to send champions top
Manchester City moved ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with a dominant 4-0 win over Fulham, with Josko Gvardiol scoring twice at Craven Cottage.
Pep Guardiola's champions knew a victory in Saturday's early kick-off would pile the pressure on Arsenal ahead of their trip to Manchester United on Sunday, and they made no mistake.
Gvardiol scored in both halves to make it five goals in his last seven games across all competitions, while Player of the Season candidate Phil Foden netted his 25th of the campaign as City ate into Arsenal's superior goal difference.
Julian Alvarez then added a late fourth from the penalty spot after Issa Diop received his second yellow card, and City know two further victories over Tottenham and West Ham next week will secure the title.
Fulham, meanwhile, stay 13th with 44 points, their winless run stretching to four matches.
The hosts’ energetic start quickly fell flat when City struck from their first real attack 13 minutes in, Gvardiol driving inside from the left to exchange passes with Kevin De Bruyne before skipping past Issa Diop and stroking his finish into the bottom-left corner.
Marco Silva cut an animated figure as City smothered their hosts from then on, with Foden testing Bernd Leno from range.
The champions should have had a second on the stroke of half-time as De Bruyne's wonderful cross found Manuel Akanji totally unmarked at the far post. However, rather using his head, the centre-back sent an awkward volley spinning over the crossbar.
Fulham very briefly improved after introducing Adama Traore at the break, but they were hit with a sucker punch just before the hour as Joao Palhinha's tackle on Bernardo Silva sent the ball straight to Foden, who drilled home on his weaker right foot.
Erling Haaland completely miscued his shot when played through by De Bruyne shortly afterwards, but City had their third with 19 minutes to play.
Silva curled a cross to the far post, where Gvardiol stretched to prod his shot under Leno, who then made a strong save to keep out Jeremy Doku's long-range strike.
However, Fulham did concede a fourth deep into stoppage time, with Diop's reckless lunge on Alvarez earning him his second caution and allowing the Argentine to tuck home from 12 yards.
De Bruyne climbs assist charts
Much of Gvardiol's opener was his own work, the defender showing great composure to beat Leno after motoring infield from the touchline, but he was helped on his way by a fine one-touch pass from De Bruyne – the 19th of a flowing move.
That was the Belgian's 111th assist in the Premier League, taking him level with Cesc Fabregas in second place in the all-time rankings. Only United great Ryan Giggs, with 162, has more in the competition's history.
De Bruyne has also contributed to at least one goal in each of his last five away games in the competition, netting three and teeing up five in that time.
If he can maintain his fine form over the next eight days, City's chances of winning an unprecedented fourth straight title will be greatly enhanced.
Toothless Fulham seeing season fizzle out
Fulham boss Silva was not a happy man at half-time, hooking both Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid after seeing his side fail to record a shot of any description in the opening period.
Though the introduction of Traore added more impetus to their flat frontline, they never truly looked like threatening City as they tallied a measly 0.12 expected goals (xG) throughout the contest.
While Silva denied suggestions his team were "on the beach" on Friday, they have certainly tailed off in recent weeks, their hopes of a top-half finish evaporating due to a run of one win in eight games (three draws, four defeats).
Celtic 2-1 Rangers: Hoops claim bragging rights in Old Firm
Celtic move six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after a 2-1 win over 10-man Rangers at Celtic Park.
John Lundstram scored an own goal in the first half to double Celtic's lead shortly after Matt O'Riley opened the scoring before the Englishman was sent off on the stroke of half-time for a late lunge on Alistair Johnston.
Celtic could not add to their advantage in the second half as O'Riley saw a penalty saved by Jack Butland before Daizen Maeda had two goals disallowed by the offside flag.
With two games left of the season, Celtic's title charge remains in their own hands, with Rangers having to hope they slip up to give them a chance of finishing top.
Data Debrief:
Celtic have avoided defeat in all four Old Firm derbies in the Scottish Premiership this season (W3 D1), doing so for the first time since 2017-18.
Rangers have had five players sent off in the Scottish Premiership this campaign, more than any other team in the competition. Lundstram is responsible for two of those.
Luis Enrique proud of Mbappe but understands decision to leave PSG
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said he was proud to have had Kylian Mbappe in his team and understood the club's all-time leading scorer's decision to end his seven-year stay.
Mbappe, whose contract expires this season, announced his departure in a video on Friday after months of speculation about his future.
"All I can say is marvellous things about Kylian Mbappe as a footballer and person," Luis Enrique told reporters on Saturday.
"I understand his decision. He has been here for seven years and is a club legend. He has given everything to this club, and this club has given him everything as well. I wish him all the best for the future.
"I have been proud to have him in this team. He has helped us and is a leader, and he has done so with a smile on his face."
But losing Mbappe, who has scored 255 goals for PSG in all competitions and won six Ligue 1 titles with them, will not change things at the club, according to Luis Enrique.
"These are things that we have known for a long time... it was only made public yesterday," he said.
"But it doesn't change anything in terms of our general outlook. Everything will stay the same.
"Regardless of those who are here or who are absent, my aim is to be stronger next season."
Luis Enrique said exiting the Champions League after losing to Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals still hurt, and it was important for PSG to end the season by winning the Coupe de France final against Lyon on May 25.
He added: "PSG will continue to be a great team, and we'll get even better. We will bring in players with strong mentality and players who identify with the club... that's how life works."
PSG, who have won the Ligue 1 title for the third time in a row, host 12th-placed Toulouse on Sunday, which will be Mbappe's last home game for them.
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