EXCLUSIVE
‘Huge future’ – Adam Wharton MUST be on plane for Euro 2024 as England boss Gareth Southgate gives Crystal Palace duo thumbs up
Gareth Southgate has been told he needs to hand spots on the plane to Euro 2024 to Crystal Palace duo Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze.
Eze started against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday night at St. James' Park as England ran out 3-0 winners with goals from Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Kane.
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The Crystal Palace star was one of the brightest players on the pitch as he looked to break down a stoic defence, using his mesmeric dribbling.
And after the break, his club teammate Wharton made his England debut from the bench and looked a fine asset in midfield, completing all of his passes (37) and registering two key passes.
talkSPORT's Adriam Durham among those full of praise for the pair, making a case for both of them to make the final 26-man squad this Friday.
Speaking of 20-year-old Wharton, Durham said live on talkSPORT: "He has come on in that second half after about an hour. I don't think I’ve seen a more comfortable England debut in my life.
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"I've watched a lot of England players make their debuts over the years, I thought he just looked completely at home.
“Boxing Day he’s getting booked at Huddersfield and now he’s taken to the Premier League and it is like nothing has happened.
"He takes to it straight away, he has come on the pitch here for his England debut and he looked so comfortable and looks so at home.
“He used the ball well, I don't think he gave the ball away once. I thought he was absolutely terrific. He has got a huge future in an England shirt.”
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Speaking about Eze, Durham said: "Eberechi Eze was terrific in that first half."
Southgate will have to cut his squad from 33 down to 26 by midnight on Friday and some might have considered Eze and Wharton as two that could be let go.
However, ex-Charlton and Crystal Palace midfielder Darren Ambrose told talkSPORT the pair 'must' be on the plane to Germany.
The have certainly played themselves into consideration, with Southgate praising Eze, adding: "Ebere has got lovely movement to go past players, he's got power."
He added: "It was lovely to see Eze go in and play with that swagger that he has at Palace.
“He’s had a couple of camps with us now and it’s good to see him getting more and more integrated with the group and feeling more comfortable in the shirt.
“We saw that beautiful gliding run where he can take people out through the middle of the pitch with the power that he has.”
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On Wharton, the England boss said: “I like what Adam Wharton’s done with us in the first few days.
"It’s a big step up from where he was at the beginning of the season but I like the fact he sees pictures early, he plays forward.
“Obviously he’s got quality on the ball but it’s the ability to receive and play the ball forward that’s really caught our eye.”
Meanwhile Manchester United and England legend Bryan Robson believes Wharton's talent resides in the simplicity of his play.
He told the Daily Mail: "What I like about him is he understands that the excellence of midfield is in its simplicity. If a forward pass is on, play it. If your defence needs help, cover them. Keep your discipline and help your team-mates.
"I am biased but midfield is the most important part of the game bar scoring goals, yet so many people over complicate it. What I like about Wharton is he knows his role. He is constantly looking around to assess the landscape of the game so he can sense danger or sense an opportunity.
"It’s terrific for Gareth Southgate that he has two great young talents in Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo for the position.
"Both have broken into the Premier League this season, maintained their places on merit and shown they can handle the big occasion. I’d take them both on the plane to Germany without any qualms."
Wharton only joined Palace five months ago, for an initial £18m from Blackburn.
He has played less than 70 games in his career - and just 16 in the top-flight - but is already attracting attention from European giants Bayern Munich.
He only received his first under-21s call-up in March but having made a huge impressiong towards the end of the season for Palace, could now cap a meteoric rise with a spot in the England squad for the Euros.
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England are next in action on Friday when they face Iceland at Wembley, live on talkSPORT.
The Three Lions then jet off to Germany for Euro 2024, where they open their tournament against Serbia on June 16.
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