He returned to the provisional 33-man squad last week and made the cut for the Euros as one of four right-backs alongside Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker and Reece James.
Now he will watch from home as Southgate backed him to return from the setback and revealed the injury should not prevent Alexander-Arnold from starting the new campaign with Liverpool.
“It’s heartbreaking, really, for any player to get to the eve of a major tournament, be named in the squad and then miss out through injury,” Southgate said.
“You know how rare these opportunities are and even though he’s a young player who is going to have those opportunities again – I firmly believe that – that’s a really difficult moment for him especially.
June 1, 2021, 6:02 am
The likes of Phil Foden, Ryan Gravenberch and Joao Felix will be keen to catch the eye during Euro 2020.
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The forthcoming European Championship is a stage on which some of the best players in the world can showcase their skills.
But, while the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo are household names – invariably a young, less familiar talent becomes the breakout star.
Jesse Lingard and James Ward-Prowse among six names cut from England Euros squad pressandjournal.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pressandjournal.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Photo by Kaz Photography/Getty Images
As the line moved past Big Ears sitting patiently on its pedestal, one by one the players caressed and kissed it. Well, except N’Golo Kanté, who shyly brushed it with the lightest, briefest of touches before quickly scurrying on to join the growing collection of Blue shirts on the center stage. There, they were all waiting for the last man in the line, the Captain himself, César Azpilicueta.
After collecting his medal, Azpi grabbed Big Ears by its big ears, plucking it off its plinth. “Look what I got,” he seemed to say to rest of his expectant teammates as he stalked, trophy in hand to the front of group. There, with a great big heave-ho, he hoisted it high into the Portuguese night sky, jumping at the same time, legs spread wide with the unbridled joy of reaching the very top of the European football pyramid.