England right-back Kyle Walker is holding Bukayo Saka back at Euro 2024.

That is according to former England defender Stuart Pearce, who believes that the Arsenal forward is not being allowed to perform at his best.

5

The Three Lions completed a 2-1 comeback win against Slovakia in their round of 16 match to set up a quarter-final clash against Switzerland on Saturday, live on talkSPORT.

But barring the two moments of quality which led to their goals, Gareth Southgate's side again looked lacklustre and unconvincing as they played a style of football which has characterised their Euro 2024 campaign thus far.

A number of players who usually shine for their clubs have consistently failed to impress in the Three Lions shirt at this tournament.

And Pearce believes that in the case of Saka, much of that is down to the failings of his teammate Walker.

The legendary England full-back explained to talkSPORT why he believed the winger was struggling.

"I feel sorry for Saka." he said. "Because - and I've mentioned it many times on commentary - Kyle Walker as a fullback is not helping this boy out.

"He's got to do more for him. He really has. Because I like Saka, I think he's an outstanding player.

"But unless you've got a distraction run from your fullback, your work is that much harder to try and get turned and face the opposition up."

5

5

Saka and Walker have both started all four of England's Euro 2024 games so far.

However, Saka was subbed off in all three of the group games with the forward having struggled to make a sustained impact in any match, besides a crucial role in setting up Jude Bellingham's winner in the 1-0 win over Serbia.

Jarred Bowen, Eberechi Eze and Cole Palmer have all come on in his place for those games, with the latter having garnered particular praise for his cameos.

Meanwhile, Walker came in for heavy criticism following England's victory over Slovakia with talkSPORT's Adrian Durham giving him just a three for his performance.

Pearce did not predict any changes to England starting XI for their quarter final clash, other than a necessary change for defender Marc Guehi, who is suspended for the Switzerland match.

Southgate explained to talkSPORT before the Slovakia clash why he had opted to start Saka ahead of Palmer on the right hand side, but the England boss may change his mind going forward.

Pearce did admit that if anyone else were to be switched up, it would likely be Saka given the relatively bigger impacts of England's other attacking players.

He explained: "If there's a change at all, and it's Palmer, I think Palmer will play instead of Saka, and Saka will be the one that is sacrificed.

"Personally over the four games, I think performance-wise, I think that (Phil) Foden's performances have been stronger than Jude (Bellingham).

"People will look at me and say 'are you crazy, he's won us one of the games, he's kept us in the tournament with his goals'. And I grant that, his goals have been brilliant and you're loathe to take players out the team that can score a goal at the drop of a hat like that.

5

5

"You're not going to take Jude out the team but I think it would be harsh on Phil Foden to be left out of the starting lineup as well because I think he's improving game-on-game and we think, on what we've seen for Manchester City, he can get us to the final and win us the tournament on his day.

"It's a really difficult team selection for the manager. When push comes to shove, apart from (Ezri) Konsa, I think he'll put the same team out."