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England and Scotland have received a major boost ahead of Euro 2024 with UEFA set to approve a change to squad rules this summer.

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate will be over the moon to learn that UEFA are set to rubber-stamp a rule change to the Euro 2024 squad stipulations.

Southgate has admitted he has been left frustrated by England's injury problems
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Southgate has admitted he has been left frustrated by England's injury problems

That is because countries will be allowed to name squads of 26 players ahead of the competition this summer, an increase on the usual squad limit of 23, according to Sky Sports.

With England already carrying some injury troubles, it will be a major boost to their Euro 2024 hopes, as well as Scotland.

Southgate had admitted last month that he had never experienced an injury crisis as national manager like he had before with several players missing from action in friendlies against Belgium and Brazil.

It led to the England coach admitting he might have to lend his voice to other managers, who were demanding that the squad size for the European Championship be expanded from 23 to 26.

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And it looks like Southgate will get his wish with UEFA voting to make the increase.

Previous tournaments such as the World Cup in Qatar and last Euro tournament in 2021 saw squads increased from 23 to 26 but only due to special circumstances.

The World Cup saw an increase as it was during the middle of the season, meaning players were already being asked to play more games, while Euro 2020 was delayed one year by COVID.

However, the change could be allowed to stick around for another international competition amid injury crises around the world.

England have had injury troubles but the increased squad size could be a major boost
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England have had injury troubles but the increased squad size could be a major boostCredit: Getty
Some of Scotland's key players have had fitness troubles too
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Some of Scotland's key players have had fitness troubles tooCredit: Getty

England have been stricken in recent weeks with several players sidelined including Reece James, Marc Guehi, Levi Colwill, Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier while there are fitness issues over John Stones, Bukayo Saka and Harry Maguire.

Scotland are another nation who have faced injury troubles with manager Steve Clarke contending with massive problems.

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Everton ace Nathan Patterson, Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson and Southampton star Stuart Armstrong are all injured and are set to missing the tournament.

Clarke will be watching nervously as Billy Gilmour, John McGinn, Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay try to stay fit ahead of the summer.

Southgate has already revealed he will name a 'training squad' before the tournament before trimming the numbers, though he did admit he did not know how big that squad would be initially.

“That’s really going to depend on where some of the injuries are at and also how many players are in the European finals,” he said last month.

“My preference is always that players have some clarity on what the role is when they come in.”

England's Euro 2024 campaign gets underway on June 16 when they face Serbia while Scotland take on hosts Germany in the first game of the tournament on June 14.

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