Gareth Southgate told to drop Bukayo Saka from England starting XI for star ‘you can’t ignore any longer’
BUKAYO SAKA should be DROPPED from England’s starting line-up in favour of Cole Palmer, says Michael Owen.
The Chelsea talisman has produced one of the most impressive debut Premier League campaigns, after joining from Manchester City last summer.
Saka has been a regular international starter and was crowned England men’s player of the year for two consecutive years.
He has netted 16 league goals and became the first English forward since Ian Wright to net more than 15 goals for Arsenal in a season.
But Palmer has been exceptional since his move to west London, with his stat tally up to 24 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.
As such, former England striker Owen believes Saka might have to be sacrificed to make way for Palmer.
Owen told Gambling Zone: “I’d now start Palmer instead of Saka. If I was Southgate, the one thing I would look at is Anthony Gordon on the left and Marcus Rashford.
“They would be on the mind as left-siders because I want pace in my team from somewhere and both offer that.
“I would go with whoever is on form: start one in one group game, start another in another.
“But for the rest of it I would keep the same. I do not think you can ignore Palmer’s form and quality for any longer.”
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
“I had Palmer in the squad back in the day but now he’s one of the best players in the Premier League.
“He might even get player of the year, possibly the Golden Boot, and that’s in a struggling team.
“So he’s now in my mind a must. I would play him on the right.”
Palmer’s form is set to cause Southgate a selection headache, with Saka, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane all expecting to start.
However, Owen declared that he doesn’t believe Southgate will be brave enough to axe Saka from his starting team.
The Liverpool icon added: “I don’t think he will do that. I’m certain he will go with two 6s which I don’t think is the right thing to do.”
“It’s almost unthinkable that you couldn’t have Foden and Palmer in your team; they are two of our best three or four players.
“It is a challenge to fit them all in but in my team you do fit them all in, although Saka would miss out which is not easy to do.”
Saka and Palmer’s England careers
Saka made his international debut in 2020 and scored 11 goals in 32 appearances.
He scored three goals in five appearances at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, before England were knocked out by France in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Palmer made his national debut with a 30 minute cameo in England’s 2-0 victory over Malta in November 2023.
But the Chelsea star was not offered a single minute during the two winless friendlies in March this year.
Meanwhile, England’s Euro campaign kicks off against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 16.
