Michael Owen picks his England starting XI for Euro 2024 leaving fans surprised by notable absentee

Michael Owen left out one of the Premier League's highest rated performers this season as he selected his England starting XI for Euro 2024.

The former England striker, who scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for the Three Lions, was given the inevitable task of picking a starting line-up for this summer's tournament.

Like many of us watching at home, Owen went with Jordan Pickford in goal before picking Kyle Walker, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and John Stones in a back four.

Declan Rice, another popular pick, also featured in midfield alongside Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham but it was his forward line that got sparked the most debate online.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was the highest rated player in the WhoScored Premier League Team of the Season after recording an average rating of 7.67.

Owen, however, was intent on putting Chelsea's Player of the Season in his team.

"I've got to find a place for Cole Palmer," the former Liverpool striker said. "I'm going to put him as my right-sider and Anthony Gordon as my left-sider. I'd also pick Harry Kane to go up front."

Owen continued: "Obviously you could switch throughout the tournament. You could bring Saka in on the right, put Palmer or Foden out on the left.

"But I have to find a place for Cole Palmer. I have to find a place for Phil Foden, and I really want pace out on the left-hand side."

He added: "That is my wish list. That team can change, wil change. But I think it can only change with two or three players.

"But personally I can only envisage Saka coming in. People will argue that Gordon shouldn't start but I love the thought of having pace out there."

Here's how fans on social media reacted to Owen's picks.

One said: "Saka might be the most disrespected player in England. He’s comfortably the starting RW."

A second wrote: "Saka has more MOTM awards for England than every other attacker bar Kane has G+As," while a third commented: "Even Anthony Gordon wouldn't pick Gordon over Saka."

A fourth said: "This isn’t about Anthony Gordon, Palmer has nothing to start ahead of Saka, enough of all these nonsense, Palmer isn’t even starting as a RW for Chelsea, he’s a number 10."

A fifth added: "The Saka disrespect is crazy. This man has stepped up consistently over the past three years for his club and has arguably been England's best player at the last two tournaments."