Euro 2024: Manchester United legend names the £45m Chelsea star who would solve England's biggest problem

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney says he was really shocked that England manager Gareth Southgate snubbed Ben Chilwell despite him being fit and having tournament experience.

Chilwell joined Chelsea from Leicester in 2020 for £45 million and helped the Blues win the Champions League, among other trophies.

The Three Lions only have one left-back, and that is Manchester United’s Luke Shaw, but he’s been unable to kick a ball due to injury. This has meant that Kieran Trippier, who is originally a right-back, has been tasked with playing at left-back. Credit to him, he’s done a decent job.

But Rooney says it was shocking that Chilwell, who is one of the best left-backs in the country, was left at home, and now England are struggling to get the balance of the team right due to playing a right-back on the left side of defense.

“I was very surprised and really shocked that Ben Chilwell didn’t get picked,” Rooney said on the BBC’s Football Daily podcast.

“Just for balance, having a left-footed player there. You’re talking about a player at Chelsea. He has been good for England in the past, he’s a good left-back, and he’s been at tournaments as well. So I was really surprised he wasn’t selected, and now you’re left with [Kieran] Trippier or [Joe] Gomez. I think at the moment it has to be Trippier or Gomez who plays there.”

Chilwell managed 13 league games in an injury-ravaged campaign for the Blues, who eventually found form at the end of the season to finish fifth.

For England, they will hope that they now begin to come into form after topping a tight group and being drawn against Slovakia for the round of sixteen tie this weekend.