GARETH SOUTHGATE is confident Jordan Henderson will be fit enough to feature in England’s warm-up matches at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium next week in order to prove his wellbeing ahead of this summer’s European Championships.

Henderson was named in Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad for the Euros along with fellow Wearsider Jordan Pickford yesterday, even though he has not featured for his club side, Liverpool, since undergoing groin surgery in February.

With injury doubts over a number of his key players, and 12 members of his provisional squad due to feature in either tomorrow’s Europa League final or Saturday’s Champions League showdown between Manchester City and Chelsea, Southgate has named a provisional group of 33 that will be trimmed to a final squad of 26 ahead of UEFA’s June 1 deadline.

Henderson is one of the players who is currently touch and go, but Southgate has been pleased with the extent of the midfielder’s work on the training ground in the last week or so and expects him to feature in England’s warm-up games on Teesside. Southgate’s side take on Austria next Wednesday before lining up against Romania four days later.

“We actually with Jordan, the level of work he’s been able to achieve is very high,” said the England boss, who has added Newcastle United assistant manager Graeme Jones to his coaching staff for the Euros. “What we haven’t been able to see yet is him on the pitch in a match situation.

“He’s firmly on track to be involved in those games (at Middlesbrough) and be able to play in those games though. There would be no point in bringing him if that wasn’t a possibility.

“In some regards, he may actually be ahead of others. He’s had a long period out, but he’s had a high training load without the matches. Jack Grealish has had a long period out, has played the matches, but maybe hasn’t had the intensity of the training. We’ve got to see how they respond to training with the group, what their recovery is like and what other issues that might throw up.

“Although they’re heading in the right direction, these are not an ideal situation. We’ve got four of those with Kalvin (Phillips) and potentially Harry Maguire as well. We’ll just keep monitoring all those really closely.”

Pickford is one of four goalkeepers selected in the provisional squad, but the former Sunderland shot-stopper’s importance has been accentuated by the absence of the injured Nick Pope.

With Pope unavailable, three of England’s goalkeepers – Dean Henderson, Sam Johnstone and Aaron Ramsdale – boast just one cap between them, so while Pickford might have started the season somewhat shakily with Everton, Southgate is delighted with the way his form improved in the latter stages of the campaign.

“It’s heartbreaking for Nick to get an injury so close to a tournament,” he said. “He’s been a fantastic member of our squad in a totally unselfish way. He’s spent hour and hour throwing himself around with penalties, which was as important in our success in the penalty shoot-outs as the guys who played frankly.

“I’m really disappointed for him, although it obviously opens up opportunities for others. Sam and Aaron finished the season well with their clubs, and Dean is obviously in that battle for the number one spot at Manchester United at the moment.

“I’ve got to say that Jordan has finished the season really strongly. Once he’s come back from injury, his focus and calmness in the goal has really stood out. I’m very pleased with his form.”

Southgate’s decision to add Jones to the squad came in the wake of former striker coach Alan Russell’s departure from his role earlier this month after his involvement in a serious car accident that resulted in a legal case.

Jones will be part of England’s backroom team for this week’s warm-up games and will also be working with the squad during the Euros, having made a positive impression since joining Steve Bruce’s coaching set-up at Newcastle in January.

“We’re pleased to be able to bring Graeme Jones in, who is obviously working with Newcastle at the moment,” said Southgate. “I’ve known Graeme quite a while, and he’s got fantastic experience of tournament football with Belgium with Roberto Martinez.

“He’s got great experience as an assistant manager and a manager, so I’m really pleased that we’ve got a really strong coaching team.

“I need to thank Steve Bruce and Lee Charnley for their help with letting us work with Graeme. They’ve been incredibly supportive, and I’m very appreciative of that.”