England legend Michael Owen reckons Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has to make way in starting XI to ensure Chelsea sensation Cole Palmer flourishes at the Euros

England legend Michael Owen has urged Gareth Southgate to make a huge call for the Euros - drop Bukayo Saka.

The brilliant Arsenal wideman, 22, has been a regular international starter and is seen as one of the first names on Southgate’s teamsheet. He has been named England men’s player of the season for the last two campaigns and is viewed as integral to any hopes of success at this summer’s tournament.

Saka, who has helped fire Arsenal’s Premier League title assault, debuted for England in 2020 but has already chalked up 32 caps, featured in two major tournaments and scored 11 goals. But ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Owen, who netted 40 times in 89 games for his country, reckons he might have to be sacrificed to make way for bolting Chelsea sensation Cole Palmer.

He told Gambling Zone: "I'd now start Cole Palmer instead of Saka. If I was Southgate, the one thing I would look at is Anthony Gordon on the left and Marcus Rashford.

“They would be on the mind as left-siders because I want pace in my team from somewhere and both offer that. I would go with whoever is on form: start one in one group game, start another in another.‌ But for the rest of it I would keep the same. I do not think you can ignore Palmer's form and quality for any longer.”

Palmer, who only made his international debut against Malta in November, has been superb for Chelsea this term, proving an inspiration in an otherwise malfunctioning team. On the dynamic 21 year-old, Owen added: “I had him in the [England] squad back in the day but now he's one of the best players in the Premier League. He might even get player of the year, possibly the Golden Boot, and that's in a struggling team.‌

"So he's now in my mind a must. I would play him on the right. I'd have [Phil] Foden and him, one on the right and one central, then have [Declan] Rice as a lone number 6, then [Jude] Bellingham and Foden as 8s stroke 10s, then Cole on the right. But at periods of the game I'd swap them around. Keep them two fluid. Have your left side player as your pacey outlet, then [Harry] Kane upfront.”

However, as England bid to go one step further than their Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, he doesn’t believe Southgate will be bold enough to axe Saka from his starting team. Their campaign kicks off against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on June 16 and Owen, 40, said: “I don't think he will do that. I'm certain he will go with two 6s which I don't think is the right thing to do.

“And then if he goes with two 6s it's likely to be Kobbie Mainoo with Declan Rice, so then you will have to bring out a Palmer or a Foden, or both because he may play Saka instead. It's almost unthinkable that you couldn't have Foden and Palmer in your team; they are two of our best three or four players. It is a challenge to fit them all in but in my team you do fit them all in, although Saka would miss out which is not easy to do.

“But he can still play a big part. If the final is tomorrow, though, I put Palmer and Foden in the team."