Euro 2024: Exclusive - Paul Scholes urges 'sensational' Harry Kane to find 'patience' for England
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Published 25/06/2024 at 08:24 GMT
In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, Paul Scholes said he expects Gareth Southgate to choose Harry Kane as England’s starting striker in their final match of the group stage against Slovenia. Kane has come in for criticism following England’s 1-1 draw against Denmark, with Ollie Watkins suggested as a possible change. Scholes has urged Kane to find "patience" while playing for England.
Southgate: 'No excuses' for England in 'anxious' Euro 2024 draw with Denmark
Paul Scholes has urged Harry Kane to “stay out of the game a little bit more” ahead of England’s final Euro 2024 group-stage match against Slovenia.
The England captain has come in for criticism after an uninspired 1-1 draw against Denmark, despite scoring the opening goal.
He has dispelled suggestions he is playing with an injury, having missed Bayern Munich’s final two games of the domestic season with a back problem, but Ollie Watkins has been touted as a potential solution to England’s attacking problems.
Scholes told TNT Sports that he did not expect manager Gareth Southgate to make such a change, and that Kane needed more “patience”.
“He’s [Kane’s] not happy if he’s not involved in the game all the time and I think this team, it probably needs a centre forward who’s not that bothered if he’s only going to touch the ball two, three, maybe four times a half,” Scholes explained.
He continued: “You see it with Manchester City and [Erling] Haaland, but what they do, they create space for the other people and you have to realise that and he’s not that type of player.
“Now, whether Gareth decides to change and go for a Watkins who I think would be happy playing that way, but I don’t think he’ll change.”
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Scholes added: “Harry’s been sensational for England, scored loads of goals.
“He [Southgate] might lose a little bit more patience with him a bit earlier than he has done, I don’t know, but for now I think Harry needs to probably stay out of the game a little bit more, than anything.
“Just stay in between the centre halves, keep them deep, leave the space for [Jude] Bellingham and [Phil] Foden, and [Bukayo] Saka, if Saka’s going to play. I think it’s all about patience with him.”
England take on Slovenia on Tuesday and will top Group C with a victory, but are almost certainly through to the round of 16 even if they lose.
Scholes shared the one change he would make to the team, removing Trent Alexander-Arnold from midfield and replacing him with Manchester United teenager Kobbie Mainoo.
“I think he [Mainoo], along with Declan Rice, is probably England’s best midfielder,” Scholes said.
“For someone of such a young age to come onto the scene as he has done in a struggling Manchester United team, really, but then you see his performance on probably, you know, what bigger stage can you get than the FA Cup final against Manchester City?
“He was outstanding and I think he deserves a place in centre midfield. He’ll bring quality into that midfield area that we’ve really lacked.
“He knows the position, he’s played the position. He’ll help Declan Rice. He’ll help Jude Bellingham and he could possibly knit the whole thing together.”
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