FEARLESS youngster Cole Palmer needs to be handed a starting spot to liven up England’s timid attack – just like Michael Owen did at World Cup ’98.
That is according to former Three Lions star Darren Anderton, who played alongside an 18-year-old Owen as he took the game by storm in France all those years ago.
Liverpool striker Owen did not start the first two group games of that tournament.
But he was so good off the bench against Romania that boss Glenn Hoddle then pitched him from the off, ahead of Teddy Sheringham, in the final group game over Colombia.
Anderton netted in that match, as did David Beckham with a glorious free-kick, as England ran out 2-0 winners.
Teenager Owen showed he was not scared of anyone – exemplified by his wonder goal against Argentina in the knockouts – and Anderton sees a similar quality in Chelsea starlet Palmer, 22.
The Tottenham legend saw enough in Palmer’s exciting cameo in the drab 0-0 over Slovenia – where he played with a freedom that his team-mates did not – to start him in the last-16 against Slovakia.
Anderton, 52, told SunSport: “I remember walking into the stadium for the Colombia game and a lot of the boys were in shock that Teddy wasn’t going to play and that Michael was going to come in.
“Then, of course, he was unbelievable. He was fearless and that’s exactly how Palmer looked against Slovenia.
“Palmer’s got that swagger, a bit of arrogance. He deals with pressure unbelievably like he’s playing in the park with his mates.
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“In Cologne, he showed exactly what England have been missing.
“Does Palmer play instead of Bukayo Saka? Who would have through that after the last couple of years Saka has had.
“But even Saka feels like he’s getting drawn into that style of play where he’s just getting it and giving it, not taking chances.
“Our style of play is shackling the team, there’s no doubt about it.
“Palmer came on and just went, ‘B******s to that, I’m going to play how I want to play’. That was brilliant, that’s what you want to see.”
Anderton, like Wayne Rooney and SunSport columnist Jack Wilshere, would love to see Jude Bellingham as a No8 alongside Declan Rice, allowing Phil Foden to play No10 – but does not think his former England team-mate Gareth Southgate will actually do that.
The ex-Spurs man wants to see Anthony Gordon come in on the left to provide some pace in behind, as well as the creative Palmer on the right.
Anderton branded England’s displays so far as “lethargic”, lacking in movement and “almost like walking football” which is “easy to defend against”.
He played with boss Southgate at Euro 96 and at that World Cup 26 years ago – and expects his former team-mate to remain “calm” due to his intelligence and temperament.
But Anderton does not believe Southgate is enjoying himself, despite the England boss’s claims to the contrary after Slovenia – which saw beer cups chucked in his direction by fans at full-time.
Speaking on behalf of William Hill, Anderton added: “The question asked of him as to whether he’s enjoying it, I would look at it and think that he’s not.
“He’s managing with fear, almost. He’s scared for us to get beat.
“The Gareth that took over and gave those players the freedom that they didn’t have under previous managers to express themselves was amazing. We’ve seen the team be successful because of it.
“I feel like at the moment he’s scared to let them go play.
“For me, Bellingham should play alongside Rice. But Gareth doesn’t seem to want to trust him in there.
“Does he not trust him enough defensively? I don’t know why not. Bellingham can do it all. Let Foden play in behind Harry and put Gordon out wide because he will run in behind and scare teams with his pace.
“At the moment everybody is coming towards the ball and it’s so easy to play against.
“I just want Gareth to say to the boys, ‘Go and play’ and really give them some freedom. But I don’t see that happening.”
England may have underwhelmed but ultimately they finished top of the group.
And with France coming second in their group, suddenly the teams on the Three Lions’ side of the draw look more beatable – provided Southgate’s men can lift themselves for the knockouts.
Anderton concluded: “We’ve had some pretty nice draws in the last three or four tournaments. We need to make it count this time.”
