Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has called for England manager Gareth Southgate to hand Magpies striker Callum Wilson a start in England's final World Cup group stage match against Wales on Tuesday evening.
The Three Lions got their tournament off to a perfect start with a 6-2 thumping of Iran before stumbling to a 0-0 draw against the USA on Friday night with little attacking threat shown.
It also means that star striker and captain Harry Kane is yet to score in Qatar and the 29-year-old could well be feeling the effects of an ankle injury suffered against Iran more than is being let on.
READ MORE: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s Newcastle United 'obsession' revealed with intriguing question
The Tottenham forward was deemed fit to start on Friday after a scare but struggled to make an impact in the match and Shearer believes that Wilson should be in contention to replace Kane on Tuesday to ensure that the Three Lions' star player is fully fit to take on the knockout stages, should Southgate's men avoid a colossal shock and progress out of Group B.
Bagging an assist from the bench against Iran alongside his six goals in 11 Premier League matches for Newcastle, Wilson is certainly in strong form with Shearer admitting in his BBC Sport column that Southgate could give the 30-year-old the nod.
"After his first two games at the last World Cup, Harry Kane had scored five goals," the Premier League's all-time goalscorer wrote. "At the same stage of this tournament, he has not had a shot on target.
"I am not overly concerned about that statistic, because we know the provider role Harry plays for this England team even when he is not scoring himself, but watching him against the United States it was clear something wasn't right.
"He came through that scare about his ankle before the US game but, after playing a big part in an impressive team performance in the Iran game with two assists, he looked very tired and very leggy to me. It might be time to think about getting him right for the knockout stages, and I have a sneaky feeling Callum Wilson might come in to face Wales on Tuesday instead.
"England need to freshen things up anyway, to get the feel-good factor back after the disappointment of our draw with the US, and restore a bit of confidence. I can understand why Gareth Southgate stuck with the same team that had stuck six goals past Iran but, after that, I can't see him doing the same again in our final game in Group B."
READ NEXT:
Yasir Al-Rumayyan ally gives PIF hint as he reveals Newcastle owners 'strive for the best'
Newcastle want new addition who could end up proving an important signing behind the scenes
David Batty 'living life to full' and Newcastle and Leeds United favourite's fury at Pizza Hut
'You can't always be nice' - Newcastle have already found ideal transfer profile in 'bad loser'
Roy Keane fires cheeky Cristiano Ronaldo transfer dig at Newcastle after Man Utd exit
