Tuesday 29 March 2016 22:37, UK
Teddy Sheringham is in no doubt that captain Wayne Rooney has to start for England at Euro 2016.
Rooney is facing increased competition ahead of this summer's championships, with the likes of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy consistently scoring in the Premier League, reaching 21 and 19 goals respectively, while Rooney has found the net seven times.
Despite struggling for both form and fitness this season, former England striker Sheringham insists there should not be any question over Rooney's place in the team, and believes he is integral to the side's hopes this summer.
"He's a proven goal scorer at international level. He knows the game and he knows where to be at the right time," said Sheringham.
"I think he would accommodate Harry Kane perfectly. I feel his best position is just behind the front man. He wouldn't get in Kane's way, and Kane wouldn't get in Rooney's way.
"He makes the team tick, he can play defensively if need be in that sort of area. I think we're going to need that experience.
"He's been there at those major tournaments - it's not just about youth and pace - you have to have a bit of everything in a football team, and Rooney adds so much."
While Rooney will not feature in England's clash with the Netherlands on Tuesday, Tottenham striker Kane almost certainly will.
As well as his continued form in front of goal for his club, Kane has also scored four times in nine appearances for the national team, including England's first against Germany on Saturday.
Sheringham, who scored 98 league goals during two spells at Tottenham, believes Kane will only go from strength to strength.
"I think he's got everything as a striker. He can score with his left foot, right foot, headed goals, he can score from range and in the six-yard box.
"He can run long he can drop off into areas that ask the defenders questions, he can hold the ball up and he's strong. He's got a bit of everything.
"He's the complete striker. At an early age, he's very unusual. You don't usually get to know your own game until you are 26, 27 or 28, when you come into your prime.
"He seems to know about his game - he wants to score goals and he wants to show you that he wants to score goals, and long may it continue."
Kane was one of four Spurs players to receive high praise following their performances in Berlin on Saturday. Dele Alli, Danny Rose and Eric Dier all featured too, and Sheringham told Sky Sports News HQ that the good understanding between players could benefit England at the Euros.
"Yes it's important that players understand each other's different ways of playing when playing for England.
"The more players know about each other, the better. Whether that's going to be the winning partnership in the Premier League, who knows, it might be the other partnership in the east Midlands."
Sheringham also revealed his preferred England lineup for the tournament. Aside from confirming a Kane-Rooney partnership, he also believes there should be a recall for Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick.
"I feel in a major tournament, Michael Carrick is a must for me.
"He's not in this squad but he's a player who wants to get on ball, makes teams tick, makes other players look good around him. If things are going bad, he will get on the ball and try and make things happen.
"Carrick and Henderson can sit back and free up Barkley and Alli. Up front, we'd have a devastating partnership of Rooney and Kane. There's goals all over the pitch there, players that can keep the ball at the right times which you have to do, and a bit of composure as well."
