Gareth Southgate has left his past behind and embraced the future by naming a bold and exciting provisional England squad for the European Championship. Jordan Henderson is gone, probably for good, while Raheem Sterling's international career has just received its winding up order. But if those exclusions could have been envisaged, the absence of Marcus Rashford has sent shockwaves through English football.
Even though he has had a dismal season for Manchester United, Rashford has mostly remained a regular starter for Erik ten Hag. But Southgate has shown no mercy, punishing the forward for his remarkable drop-off this season and giving a simple explanation: "I just feel other players in that area of the pitch have had better seasons. That’s it".
Southgate has an embarrassment of riches available to him in attack, with Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon fully deserving their places in the squad at Rashford's expense. The coach has also recalled the sparkling Eberechi Eze and given a surprise call-up to his Crystal Palace team-mate Adam Wharton.
There's no place for Eric Dier, but Southgate has shown faith with young centre-backs Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarrell Quansah. The manager has not completely overhauled his squad though, and it is telling that he has pinned his faith on Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw making full recoveries after injury-ravaged seasons.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the England squad announcement...