Harry Kane gets the nod from both pundits
Friday 27 March 2015 12:44, UK
We challenged Sky Sports pundits Paul Merson and Phil Thompson to name their England XIs ahead of Lithuania's visit to Wembley on Friday.
Both have picked in-form Harry Kane as the Tottenham striker hopes to make his international debut, but the pair disagree on how he should be utilised.
<a href="http://www.skybet.com/go/event/17666126aff=11943&dcmp=ss_betlink_EditEnglandXIs">"I'm backing Kane to score first in a 3-0 win for England at 11/1 with Sky Bet."</a>
Merson believes England manager Roy Hodgson should get the best out of the 21-year-old by deploying the same attacking system used by Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Kane has flourished with three attackers behind him for his club this season, and Merson has picked the same formation with Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling and Danny Welbeck taking up the deeper roles.
"When the internationals come around, I think you have to go with the flow and play to the strengths of the most in-form players," Merson told Sky Sports.
"No one's in better form right now than Harry Kane, so why not use the same formation that he’s been unstoppable in for Spurs?
"England should have enough to beat Lithuania no matter what formation they play, so I'd experiment and give Kane a start in a role that's familiar to him."
Thompson, on the other hand, prefers a diamond formation, with Kane partnering Rooney up front and Raheem Sterling playing just behind the top two.
"Without doubt, Kane will get chances against Lithuania," the former Liverpool defender told Sky Sports.
"With Wayne Rooney and Raheem Sterling in and around him, I'd expect them to create four or five openings for him, so you'd have to back him to score with the form he's in.
"I've gone for the diamond because I think it would suit Michael Carrick, who's been tremendous for Manchester United lately.
"It also suits Sterling to play through the middle and behind the strikers rather than out wide, in my opinion."
Our experts also disagree over who should partner Gary Cahill in central defence with Merson favouring Chris Smalling and Thompson opting for Phil Jagielka. Thompson also opts for James Milner over Danny Welbeck.
Both agree that Manchester United's Michael Carrick should start in midfield with Nathaniel Clyne getting the nod from both at right-back.
England are firmly in control of their European Championship qualifying group with four wins from four, having scored 11 goals with just one in reply.
