'Guaranteed starter': TalkSPORT pundit says Southgate simply has to pick Arsenal star vs Senegal next game

By Ben Evans

England cast away any doubts over their unlikely elimination from the World Cup last night with a 3-0 win over Wales.

Gareth Southgate’s side were never troubled by their Welsh rivals as they cemented their spot at the top of Group B.

Speaking on TalkSPORT (30/11 8:37am), Dean Ashton was talking about Southgate’s selection dilemma.

After naming an unchanged side for England’s first two games, he made four changes last night.

Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden certainly took their chances, scoring all three goals on the night.

Rashford’s opening goal – a well struck free-kick – was the pick of the bunch.

It meant the likes of Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling dropped out of the side.

Southgate’s conundrum will now be to decide which of his attackers he wants to choose behind Harry Kane.

Despite not scoring yet, Kane’s three assists and all-round play make him the first name on the team sheet.

Now, Ashton believes that Southgate simply has to start Saka against Senegal on Sunday.

His goals in the opening match against Iran, alongside his brilliant domestic form for Arsenal, make him very difficult to leave out.

Southgate has to start Saka against Senegal

Speaking to TalkSPORT, Ashton selected the three players he would start in attack behind Kane on Sunday.

Specifically, he was asked if Southgate should start Saka in England’s next game: “Oh yeah, he was so good in that first game, [he’s] arguably one of our most in-form players this season especially.

“For me, he’s a guaranteed starter on the right-hand side.

“I would then have [Marcus] Rashford on the left, Rashford deserves now his spot after that performance, and even when he came on a sub I thought he just looks so sharp.

“I’d have Foden in the ten because he has to play for me. He just does things that even as an ex-player I’m like wow that’s ludicrous.”

Saka will be well rested by the time England next play, having had over a week off by that point.

Choosing just two wingers out of a group in such good form is lovely problem for Southgate to have.

Jamie Carragher believes the rest Saka has had will really benefit him going into the Senegal game.

Saka was seen in training defending expertly one-on-one, which one of the traits that will draw Southgate towards picking him.

Southgate tends to favour a pragmatic approach in knockout games, and Saka’s defensive ability and work-rate might give him the nod over the likes of Rashford and Foden.