Wayne Rooney picks controversial England player he thinks Gareth Southgate should've taken to Euro 2024

Wayne Rooney shocked Gary Lineker by naming the England player he thinks Gareth Southgate should have taken to Euro 2024.

Southgate omitted seven players from his initial 33-man squad to comply with UEFA's rules for the tournament.

He elected to include Luke Shaw despite the Manchester United left-back still struggling for fitness and being placed on an individual training programme.

After two disappointing displays against Denmark and Serbia, many fans and pundits have mentioned the decision to leave out the likes of Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Jarrod Branthwaite.

But on Friday night, former England skipper Rooney said he believes Southgate made a mistake not taking Jordan Henderson.

The Plymouth Argyle boss feels as though his leadership qualities and experience would have been incredibly useful.

Image: Getty

"You want to go and press the ball, you need voices behind," Rooney said on the BBC while providing punditry on the Netherlands' 0-0 draw with France.

"So Harry needs voices behind to tell them to keep it one way and obviously what you've worked on.

"And I said before the tournament, I think I would have taken Jordan him because you haven't got that experience in the middle of the pitch.

"But he's also a voice. Harry's not the most vocal, and he doesn't speak as much as he probably should.

"But I think just having Jordan Henderson there... a bit more bit of experience in there and a voice around the camp because they are very inexperienced."

Henderson was previously a key member of Southgate's side for two World Cup campaigns and the Euro 2020 tournament where the Three Lions reached the final.

Image: Getty

But the 34-year-old fell down the pecking order after leaving Liverpool for Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia and then joining Ajax.

He was in the squad for the game against Belgium in March but his last cap was in November.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been partnering Declan Rice in midfield but was replaced by Conor Gallagher in both games.

Kobbie Mainoo has been restricted to a brief cameo against Serbia, while Adam Wharton is yet to take to the pitch in the competition.

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