Bukayo Saka needs more help from Kyle Walker if he is to shine for England at right wing during Euro 2024, according to a former defender who won 78 caps for the Three Lions.

England are through to the quarter-finals of the Euros, having finished top of Group C with five points before beating Slovakia 2-1 in the round of 16. Gareth Southgate’s men are due to face Switzerland on Saturday, but many supporters feel disappointed even though their country has progressed in the tournament thus far.

England have one of the best squads at international level in the world and remain one of the favourites to win the Euros in Germany.

But Southgate has left fans bored with a defensive and lacklustre style of play which has also given opposition teams confidence.

Southgate and England appeared to be heading towards an embarrassing last-16 defeat to Slovakia on Sunday before Jude Bellingham stepped up with a last-minute wondergoal and Harry Kane headed home the winner in extra time.

Arsenal star Saka is among the players who is struggling under Southgate’s frustrating tactics, but ex-England man Stuart Pearce thinks Walker is partly to blame for the winger not being at his brilliant best.

During a recent radio appearance, Pearce said: “I feel sorry for Saka. Because – and I’ve mentioned it many times on commentary – Kyle Walker as a full-back 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.

England news: Kyle Walker must help Bukayo Saka

“But unless you’ve got a distraction run from your full-back, your work is that much harder to try and get turned and face the opposition up.”

Saka notched 20 goals and 14 assists in 47 games for Arsenal last term, but he has yet to register a single goal contribution for England at Euro 2024.

The 22-year-old remains an almost guaranteed starter for England, as Southgate is a huge admirer of his, though there are calls for the manager to change things up and select Cole Palmer on the right.

Palmer enjoyed a record-breaking debut season at Chelsea and made a good impact for England when he came on during the goalless group-stage draw with Slovenia. Arsenal hero Ian Wright has even suggested that Saka be moved to left-back in order to accommodate for Palmer at right wing.

That is unlikely to happen against Switzerland, though it is clear that Walker needs to help Saka out more, and the latter needs to improve his own performances, if he is to keep the likes of Palmer, Jarrod Bowen and Ebere Eze at bay.