EXCLUSIVE
Cole Palmer in, Jude Bellingham changes position and Harry Kane stays in Darren Bent’s England line-up for Slovenia clash
Harry Kane should be given one more chance to start for England in the clash against Slovenia.
That’s the view of talkSPORT Drive co-host and former Three Lions striker Darren Bent, who has revealed how he’d line Gareth Southgate’s side up for their last Euro 2024 group game.
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The Euro 2020 finalists are currently top of Group C, sitting on four points with qualification just within reach - but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Southgate’s side have been unconvincing in both their 1-0 opening win over Serbia and their 1-1 draw with Denmark, with a concerning lack of attacking threat plaguing their clashes despite them boasting some of the best talent in the world.
Even England captain Kane has been questioned, with ex-Three Lions defender Stuart Pearce stating the Bayern Munich striker may need to be dropped following his minimal involvement in both ties.
But Bent thinks Kane should still lead the line for Tuesday’s clash - which is live on talkSPORT - so long as he improves.
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“You’ve got to pick Kane,” he told marvelbet369.com. “I’d give him one more chance. At some point, if his performances carry on how they have been, which is not the usual Harry Kane...
“Do you know what it is? Harry Kane has set the standard so high, so even when he falters a little bit, it’s so obvious he’s not right.
“So I would probably opt for Kane for now, but if his performances carry on as they have been, being lacklustre and below par a little bit, I’d look to make a change. That change would probably be Ivan Toney, it depends on the opposition.
“But certainly if it continues, you’d have to look at a change for sure.”
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Kane fired a whopping 44 goals in 45 appearances in his debut season in the Bundesliga, and Southgate will be hoping his talisman can add to the goal he netted against Denmark on Thursday.
Of course, the England skipper isn’t the only one who’s struggled to get going this tournament.
Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit insists Declan Rice is a 'victim' of Gareth Southgate's tactics for England
Many fans and pundits have raised concerns over Phil Foden, who operates from midfield for Manchester City, playing on the left-wing in front of a right-footed Kieran Trippier, who is being deployed at left-back in regular Luke Shaw’s absence.
So how would Bent - who scored four goals in 13 appearances for England - shake things up in that department and beyond?
Detailing his XI in full, the former Tottenham striker said: “Jordan Pickford will be in goal, that speaks for itself.
“I think the back four, so far, has been pretty much faultless. Kyle Walker at right-back, John Stones, Marc Guehi who I think has been absolutely brilliant this tournament. I think he’s been the best England player consistently over the two games.
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“Left-back Kieran Trippier. We haven’t got any other options!
“We’re in the middle of the park now and I am liable to go with Declan Rice [as] holding midfielder. Playing for Arsenal he’s been brilliant. I’m going to go with Declan Rice as the holder.
“I’m going to go with Jude Bellingham as the eight. I’m going to shift him a little bit and I’m going to go Phil Foden as a 10. That’s going to be my midfield, Phil Foden as a 10.”
And with Foden dropping into midfield, Bent believes Chelsea’s top goal scorer from the 2023/24 season, Cole Palmer, should make his major tournament debut.
He continued: “On the right-hand side I’m going to go Bukayo Saka. In the middle I’m going to go Harry Kane.
“On the left I’m going to go Cole Palmer.
"I think Cole Palmer, for the season that he’s had, 27 goals [in all competitions], I think he deserves a minute at some point so yeah I’m going to go Cole Palmer on that left-hand side.”
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talkSPORT will bring you live commentary of EVERY game at Euro 2024. Tune in via the website or the app, and follow our live Euro 2024 blog for all the latest news, views and reaction to the big moments.
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