Ivan Toney should be in the England Euro 2024 squad for his penalties over Ollie Watkins, says Paul Merson
I would pick Ivan Toney just for his penalties instead of Ollie Watkins in England’s Euro 2024 squad.
I don't see the point in taking them both because Harry Kane will play every minute and if he gets injured then England won't win the Euros anyway - and I've been bullish that they'll win the tournament.
In a 23-player squad, there aren't any spots to waste on centre-forward positions. I'd be flabbergasted if Gareth Southgate took the pair when Marcus Rashford can also play up front.
Watkins has improved ten-fold with Aston Villa while Toney hasn't set the world alight since his return with Brentford, but that's understandable having not played for eight months.
We'll start to see the best of Toney during the run-in now that he has his striker partner Bryan Mbeumo is back.
I like Watkins but you must take Toney for his penalties, especially with England's history in shootouts.
It's unfair to bring in players like Cole Palmer and Jarrad Branthwaite and play them at Wembley alongside a lorry load of players with three or four caps each.
If Palmer has a chance of going to the Euros, then play him with the likes of Kane, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham where they can get a bit of understanding between them.
Everything goes through Palmer at Chelsea but that won't be the case with England. He has to play in one of these friendlies to understand he won't be touching the ball 100 times and get used to that.
It's a different game at the international level, especially for someone like him where he's the star man at Chelsea. In my opinion, it's too soon to see Palmer starting at the Euros having only a few caps.
Jarrad Branthwaite has to play in both games to see where he's at. At Everton, they play on the edge of their own box. Head it,
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