Joe Cole has explained his preference for Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen ahead of Marcus Rashford in England’s team for Euro 2024.
Palmer, Bowen and Rashford were all picked for England’s recent friendlies against Brazil and Belgium but the 26-man group will be reduced to 23 for this summer’s Euros.
England had a disappointing final international break before the Euros in Germany, suffering a 1-0 loss to a weakened Brazil side and then drawing 2-2 with Belgium thanks to Jude Bellingham’s last-minute equaliser at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate has several decisions to make before naming his final Euros squad, with Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo a late contender and a debate over which striker should go as backup to Harry Kane.
The Three Lions boss must also choose between a number of attacking forwards, with Rashford, Palmer and Bowen all in contention along with players more assured of their place like Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka.
Rashford is much more experienced at international level than Palmer and Bowen but Cole would still prefer to see the Chelsea and West Ham stars selected for England’s team this summer.
Palmer, 21, has been a revelation since joining Chelsea from Manchester City last summer, scoring 11 goals and making eight assists in 23 Premier League appearances.
Bowen is also enjoying a fantastic run of form at West Ham, scoring 14 goals in 28 league games to help David Moyes’ side climb to seventh in the table and reach the later stages of the Europa League.
Rashford, meanwhile, is one of several players who have disappointed at Old Trafford this season in a Manchester United team sitting sixth in the Premier League.
‘You are going to get some headlines and there is a reason for putting players in and leaving players out,’ Cole, who earned 56 caps for England, told Channel 4.
‘With Marcus, I love him as a player. I think he is a top-class player but he’s had an indifferent season.
‘There have been ups and downs and that’s been right the away through his career, he’s hit the heights.
‘I just think I wouldn’t start him in my England team, because my front three would be Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden. That’s my front three if everyone is fit.
‘Then where am I going to get bang for my buck? I just question Rashford given the stage of his career he’s at and whether every minute on that pitch for England is as meaningful for him as it is for someone like Jarrod Bowen?
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‘If Bowen goes to the Euros and plays one minute he will be the proudest man in the country and so will Cole Palmer.
‘I’m thinking for tournaments to come they are going to be England players.’
England are in Group C for Euro 2024 alongside Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia. They kick-start their Euros campaign against Serbia on June 16.
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