Drop Harry Kane and put Bukayo Saka at left-back?! Six drastic changes England could make to turn Euro 2024 form around

Harry Kane is, probably, England's greatest ever striker. Not only is he the country's all-time leading goal scorer, he offers so much more. As well as being capable of dropping deep and spraying improbable, long-ranged passes to his team-mates, few footballers on the planet are as adept at winning fouls when his side are in need of relieving pressure.

This was supposed to be his crowning moment on the international stage too. Coming into Euro 2024 on the back of winning the European Golden Shoe, the prospect of him combining with Jude Bellingham had the entire nation salivating. But it's just not happened for Kane in Germany.

Instead of making headlines for his performances on the pitch, his biggest contribution of note has been a slanging match with Gary Lineker in the media. There's been suggestions that Kane is still struggling for full fitness following a back injury picked up towards the end of the Bundesliga season. And on the evidence of his displays, it's pretty clear he isn't 100% physically.

He's no stranger to playing through the pain barrier, but each time he has struggled through with a knock, it's been reminiscent of his underwhelming outings at Euro 2024. Kane needs to feel as mobile as possible to drop deeper while also darting into the box to finish his side's chances. Right now, he simply doesn't seem capable.

It seems mad to consider dropping him for the last 16, but opting for Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney might prevent the ridiculous overcrowding in deeper, central attacking areas that is currently happening with Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in the team. Perhaps it's time to give a more 'get in behind' striker like Watkins a go?

Kane is not the only ex-Tottenham man to endure a frustrating tournament so far. Kieran Trippier has also attracted significant criticism for his displays at left-back. This isn't really his fault.

A natural right-footer, Trippier has been unable to provide England with the width they require in possession. Southgate must surely be regretting his decision not to select a fully-fit left-sided defender, but at this stage he must play with the cards he's dealt himself.

One possible answer to the Three Lions anchoring themselves to the right wing would be bringing back wing-backs. Southgate used a back three for most of his early time in charge of England, but the formation was seemingly consigned to the scrapheap after a string of difficult results in the UEFA Nations League towards the end of 2022.

In the wake of the Slovenia game, however, there were calls for it to be brought back, with Bukayo Saka being touted for a wing-back role. On paper, this isn't as crazy as it might seem. The change would open the door for Trent Alexander-Arnold to return to the team on the opposite side, perhaps with Declan Rice and one other covering for the wideman when they get caught too high.

With natural width being provided, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham could focus on supporting the striker as a pair of de-facto No.10s. Kyle Walker has experience playing as right-sided centre-back too.

Ian Wright suggested an even more novel role for Saka in the wake of the Slovenia game. Namely, just sticking the Arsenal forward straight into the back four. "Yes, Kyle Walker can play there [at left-back], it’s the same situation where you have the player coming inside, you have no one going around. He’s a natural left-footer Saka, we could activate the whole left side," he said on ITV.

There is some precedent for this. During his youth career for both club and country, Saka was deployed at left-back fairly often. However, his most recent appearance in the role came all the way back in May 2021.

During his brief period in the backline under Arteta, Saka was not especially enthusiastic, admitting that it is not his "natural position". But with England's left side in dire need of some thrust, it just might be the wildcard selection Southgate needs to get this campaign back on track.

Playing Saka in this unfamiliar role could have several, positive knock-on effect as well. During his brief stint on the field against Slovenia, Palmer looked lively, continuing the fabulous club form he exhibited all season long for Chelsea.

Roy Keane was definitely impressed, commenting to ITV after: "He'll be under huge pressure to play Palmer in the next game because he came on tonight and affected the game.

"They are struggling to get that flow of the game. But they are keeping clean sheets and a couple of young players came on tonight and maybe that's the way to go. I always say with young players, they have got no fear, just go with them sometimes."

Palmer certainly knows a thing or two about making an impact in a team lacking a coherent structure. During Chelsea's struggles in the early part of last season, he carried them to victory on several occasions.

His fearless nature could be exactly what England need. Why not build the team around him in the knockout stages? Doing the same for a tired Bellingham clearly isn't working and there might just be a spot opening up on his favoured right-hand side if Saka moves into the backline.

Palmer was not the only new arrival to impress against Slovenia, though. After being brought on at the interval, Mainoo added some much needed tempo to proceedings in midfield. He fared a lot better than Gallagher, who was the only England player not to touch the ball inside the opening 10 minutes, and did not attempt a single dribble.

Mainoo's one-and-two-touch passing was a welcome respite from the drudgery that came before, and his confidence seems to suggest that Southgate might have to start trusting some of his rawer talents while his more experienced operators are faltering.

Adam Wharton is another midfielder who fits into this category. Capable of driving forward from deep and passing the ball with purpose, it's been surprising to see him not handed a single second of playing time this tournament. Surely now, though, he is ahead of Gallagher in the pecking order.

Getting more minutes into this exciting midfield pair is something Southgate must seriously consider as we head into the knockout stages.

And then there's Gordon. The Newcastle wideman is the only natural left winger in the squad, so considering how poor England have been in that area of the pitch, it's startling that he's hardly played.

While he's not as individually gifted as the likes of Foden and Saka, when it comes to addressing this specific issue, it's hard to identify a better suited alternative. He strengthened his case for being more involved - among the supporters at least - in the wake of the Slovenia draw with a refreshing post-match interview. In it, he broke rank with the squad's senior players by admitting that things aren't "clicking" at the moment.

"Watching from the sideline at any game, at any level, is hard. You just want to come on the pitch because you feel you can make an impact," he said at full-time. "I felt I did when I came on. I tried to get at people and be direct and cause problems in the few minutes I got. And I'll always try and do that."

Of all the decisions Southgate has made, ignoring a chalk-on-his-boots winger for the entire group stages seems the most puzzling.

Regardless of whether he's convinced to shake it up in the last 16, the manager is very much running out of time to inject some hope back into what increasingly looks like being his final tournament as Three Lions boss.