Ashley Young names his preferred England midfield for Euro 2024

Former Manchester United winger Ashley Young will have a keen eye on the European Championships this summer.

England are looking to end 58 years of hurt as Gareth Southgate aims to be successful with the Three Lions at Euro 2024.

Everton full-back Young, who spent nine years at United, has told Southgate to start Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in central midfield at the tournament this summer.

Young insists that an attacking approach in Germany will give England their best chance of winning the Euros outright.

Giving his verdict on who should start in the middle of the pitch, Young told talkSPORT: “I’m hoping we’re going to go with an attacking formation with Declan Rice sitting.

“I’d love to see Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham just in front of him.

“Just going to express [themselves], just going to show that England have got the attacking talent that they can beat anyone they come up against.

“So hopefully Gareth will do that, but he’s got some tough choices to make.

“But I’m sure that if he goes with an attacking line-up – and the boys that are in-form – then I’m sure the boys can go out there and win the tournament.”

Too soon for Kobbie Mainoo

Many will notice that Young hasn’t included United midfield starlet Kobbie Mainoo, who has been nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Year award. I would side with that decision because there is no point rushing him into the England team.

England go to the Euros as one of the favourites, but it remains to be seen who will even be named in the line-up.

This is likely to be Southgate’s final tournament as England manager, so why would he overlook players in their prime who he had at previous tournaments? He’s given Mainoo his international debut but there’s no need to make him a regular just yet.