England boss Gareth Southgate has rubbished 'nonsense' stories after selecting Trent Alexander-Arnold in his squad for Euro2020 on Tuesday.
The Liverpool right-back was widely expected to miss the final cut which brought the squad down to 26 players.
However, Alexander-Arnold is one of four right-back's included alongside Reece James, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier.
"I spoke to Trent three weeks ago. There were stories over the last couple of weeks with lots of strange headlines, I have no idea where they have come from," Southgate told reporters after confirming England's Euros squad on Tuesday.
"I felt that there were stories that ran that were so far off the truth. I read stories about me that aren't true but when it's a player they may feel like they're reading it so it may be true.
"Last night we were dealing with that, in the morning he's taking set pieces preparing for tomorrow and then he's reading that he is not going to the Euros.
"That's the world I live in but I want to protect my players. I spoke to Trent last night to say 'don't know where this is coming from, it's nonsense'. People jump on it and say I have an agenda or don't like the kid. It is an incredible situation."
Mason Greenwood withdrew from the squad on Monday and will be joined by James Ward-Prowse, Jesse Lingard, Ollie Watkins, Ben Godfrey, Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale as the other players not selected.
Complete 26-man England squad for Euro2020
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Sam Johnstone (West Brom).
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Declan Rice (West Ham).
Forwards:Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
