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Wayne Rooney believes ‘brilliant’ Everton ace just as important as Harry Kane for England

Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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Wayne Rooney has named one player who he believes is just as important to England as Harry Kane is to the Three Lions.

England kick off their European Championship adventure this Sunday when they take on Serbia with Gareth Southgate’s men hoping to go far in the competition.

Southgate has made some difficult decisions during the build up to this tournament with the original 33-man squad whittled down to the final 26 names ready for the tournament in Germany.

There are some selection headaches for Southgate but there is perhaps one position on the team which is not up for debate.

Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League
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Rooney names player who is as important as Kane

Harry Kane will be leading the line for England this summer and the Bayern Munich forward may well be one of the most important players for the Three Lions this summer.

However, speaking on The Overlap, Wayne Rooney has named the player that he believes is just as important for the Three Lions as Harry Kane.

When Rooney and ex-United right-back Gary Neville were discussing how the Three Lions should lineup for the tournament, the English striker single out Jordan Pickford as a key man.

“Yeah, I think he has to start in goal,” Rooney said on Pickford when questioned by Neville. “He was brilliant in the previous tournament, he’s just as important as Harry Kane.

“If he gets injured, I don’t believe we have that experience and quality to replace him.”

Pickford’s impact

The Everton goalkeeper has been a consistent starter for Southgate’s men ever since the former Middlesbrough manager took over the Three Lions.

This has been another brilliant season for Pickford with the Englishman keeping Everton in games at times as Sean Dyche’s men avoided relegation despite suffering a points deduction.

Pickford has been outstanding on the international stage and you wouldn’t bet against the Englishman having yet another stellar tournament.