Pickford has been a mainstay during Gareth Southgate’s reign as England manager and is set to be the Three Lions’ first-choice goalkeeper for the fourth major tournament in a row.
Butland, meanwhile, has just finished his first season at Rangers having joined the Scottish club on a free transfer last summer but has not made an appearance for England since September 2018.
‘I believe this is the strongest England squad I have seen going into a top tournament,’ Souness wrote in his column for MailOnline.
‘Yes, there are a few frailties in defence, particularly if Luke Shaw falls over, but generally it’s a fantastic squad and a common sense selection.
‘Gareth has also been very loyal to Jordan Pickford, which I can understand, but, for me, there is another goalkeeper who should be going to the tournament. I’ve watched Jack Butland several times playing for Rangers this season and he is the best English goalkeeper around. I’m surprised he hasn’t earned a place.’
Meanwhile, Souness believes Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton should start ahead of Kobbie Mainoo in England’s midfield at Euro 2024 and feels Chelsea’s talisman Cole Palmer will give Southgate a selection ‘headache’.
‘I’m really pleased Adam Wharton has got in. I really like the Crystal Palace midfielder,’ Souness wrote.
‘I’ve said before he knows the responsibilities and discipline required of a midfielder and has real quality. Kobbie Mainoo is good on the ball but Wharton has greater understanding of the position.
‘In Wharton, Mainoo and Cole Palmer you have three young players who have seized their chance and are full of confidence, but Palmer will give his manager a major headache. England’s real strength is in their firepower.
‘Gareth is blessed in the forward positions but I just sense Palmer, if he can replicate his Chelsea form, will give a performance, maybe from the bench, that will make it very difficult to leave him out. I believe it came down to a straight choice between Palmer and Maddison and he has gone for the in-form player.
‘There are only seven games including the final so this is not for players scratching for form. That’s seven games to hit the ground running but the strength in this squad makes me believe England are favourites to win it.’
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