07 March 2024 , 08:11
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Alan Shearer wants to see Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins play together in England's frontline at the Euros.
The Bayern Munich star has been a regular for the Three Lions for almost a decade and has continued to showcase his quality in the Bundesliga. He has led the line for England en route to becoming their greatest ever goalscorer, but Shearer believes he could now occupy a deeper role.
As his career has gone on Kane has become more of a No 10, dropping deep to link play rather than being and out and out striker. That could free up a space for Watkins, who has enjoyed the best season of his career at high-flying Aston Villa.
Shearer claims that five names in midfield and attack should be "guaranteed" under Gareth Southgate. Declan Rice, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham have all made themselves undroppable whilst Bukayo Saka's exploits at Arsenal mean it is almost impossible to overlook him alongside Kane.
The pundit told The Athletic : "Five of the front six are guaranteed starters: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane. Those players, all of them enjoying brilliant seasons, make up five of the best front six in world football. But there is one spot in the team still up for grabs.
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"There is another viable option, one that I would like to throw into the mix. I don't expect Gareth to go for this approach but there are circumstances when it would be exactly what England needed. Play Ollie Watkins in the No 9 role. Kane can drop back into the No 10 space, which we all know is a natural part of his game and one where he has been so key in creating for England, Tottenham and Bayern Munich.
"Bellingham would take up a deeper midfield position alongside Rice. Foden and Saka still cut in from out wide. Yes, it would be a first, as the two have never shared a pitch for England — but this season, Watkins is looking like the most improved player in the Premier League."
Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins have been backed to start togetherEngland have been unable to deliver a major trophy in recent years despite having one of the best squads in international football. A semi-final at the World Cup in 2018 was followed up by a final in the Euros just a few years later.
Southgate has refused to commit his future to England beyond the tournament. “You’ve got to see how the summer goes – it’s as simple as that,” he said. “I know what we’re capable of achieving. I know what my own benchmark of success would be and after that I’m not really thinking about anything else. My only focus is to try and win the tournament for England.
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