Joe Cole would pick Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen ahead of Marcus Rashford in England’s Euro 2024 squad

Joe Cole has suggested Marcus Rashford should be left out (Picture: Getty)

Joe Cole has explained why he would pick Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen ahead of Marcus Rashford in England’s squad for Euro 2024.

Palmer, Bowen and Rashford were all selected in England’s squad for the recent friendlies against Brazil and Belgium but the 26-man group will be trimmed to 23 for this summer’s Euros.

England endured a disappointing final international break before the Euros in Germany, losing 1-0 to a depleted Brazil side and then drawing 2-2 with Belgium thanks to Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp 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 back-up 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 far more experienced at international level than Palmer and Bowen but Cole would still rather see the Chelsea and West Ham stars picked in England’s squad 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.

Rashford faces a battle to be selected for Euro 2024 (Picture: Getty)

Bowen is also enjoying a superb 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 latter stages of the Europa League.

Rashford, meanwhile, is one of a number of players who have underwhelmed 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.

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‘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? 

‘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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