Former England midfielder Paul Ince has claimed that Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe should have been picked for the Three Lions' Euro 2016 squad instead of Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford.
Defoe, 33, scored 18 goals in 34 appearances for the Black Cats this season and helped them survive relegation from the Premier League.
However, England boss Roy Hodgson has left the former Tottenham Hotspur forward out in favour of 18-year-old Rashford, who has netted eight goals in 18 appearances.
Ince is quoted by The Nottingham Post as saying: "For me Jermain Defoe should have gone. When you look at him, he'll always score goals and he's played at international level.
"The last three or four months, back end of the season, he probably kept Sunderland up on his own with the goals he scored. He's a natural finisher.
"As much as everyone's gone over the top about Rashford, I would have taken Jermain Defoe first before I would have taken Rashford, if I'm being totally honest. Rashford's one who for me it's too early. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders and I hope he does get on and can do a Michael Owen, but I can't go too over the top about that at the moment."
England face Russia in their opening Group B game next Sunday.
Giuseppe Labellarte
