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Jermaine Jenas exclusive: Kyle Walker could be breakout Euros star

Going in to every major tournament, the question of who England's breakout star could be is invariably raised, and Jermaine Jenas says for once it's a defender not an attacker.

Jermaine Jenas exclusive: Kyle Walker could be breakout Euros star

One of the big questions people ask about England coming into any tournament is, who is going to be the breakout star? The Rooney 2004. The Shearer 96. The Gazza 1990.

It's usually the attacking players who are mentioned, and the likes of Harry Kane, Deli Alli and Jamie Vardy were the ones talked up this time. But the way things are panning out, it is actually Kyle Walker who is emerging as England's standout player in France. He's been phenomenal, and I think he's the best right-back at the tournament.

I believe Walker, and his fellow full-back Danny Rose, are the key for England at Euro 2016. People have questioned our defence, but in wide areas we have the ability to destroy teams. Walker against Wales had 52 touches in the opposition half, which for a right-back is ridiculously high. He was England's go-to player in attack.

The Tottenham man has pace and power in abundance, and defenders can't live with that combination. He caused Wales constant problems down the right-hand side, to the degree that I think Chris Coleman should have seriously considered moving Gareth Bale to the left just to nullify Walker. It's not as if Bale was getting any joy in his advanced role, because England had the Welsh penned back.

Kyle Walker bursts past Aaron Ramsey during the Euro 2016 Group B match between England and Wales in Lens. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Kyle Walker bursts past Aaron Ramsey during the Euro 2016 Group B match between England and Wales in Lens. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Normally the Wales wing-backs are the team's outlet going forward, but Walker and Rose on the England flanks didn't give them a chance to get forward. So whenever Bale, Aaron Ramsey or Joe Allen got the ball, they had no options. That was all down to the power and running of Walker and Rose, who I think have been England's best players in both their games so far.

The only criticism I can make is that their quality in the final third could be better, because they get into amazing positions but that's not always matched by the cross. And that's the main thing that is stopping them moving up from being a very good pair of full-backs to a world class pair.

That's what they are on the cusp of. I know both these guys personally and, talking to them, I don't think they even know it. But if you look around the continent at the full-back positions, Walker and Rose are two of the best. If they can work on that final delivery, that's when they'll take that next step, into the realm of players like Dani Alves.

I also think they are dispelling doubts people have had about them defensively, because they have simply not been troubled. True, they won't have proved anything until they do it against the top teams, but what I will say is that Bale wasn't trying his luck out wide in the Wales game. I think that's partly because he wouldn't have got any joy up against Walker or Rose. He knows they are quick and strong, and they just seem unfazed.

Roy Hodgson has made a conscious decision to use the full-backs to provide the team's width in France. Losing Danny Welbeck to injury was a big blow for the England manager. He could have brought in Andros Towsend or Theo Walcott, but he chose not to. He's using Walker and Rose instead, and from what I've seen it makes total sense.

The only out-and-out winger in the squad is Raheem Sterling, but I think he'll be used just as an impact substitute from now on because his confidence is obviously very low.

That's partly why it's not been as fluid for England on the left side as it has been on the right, where Adam Lallana has also been excellent. He's playing one-twos with Walker and he's clever enough to come inside and let Walker have space on the right, because what Walker and Rose both want is space in front of them.

In addition to Sterling, I actually think Roy might make a few changes in the next game because England are playing a lot of games in a short space of time, and they have to start thinking about that second round match.

I don't know exactly who will replace Sterling, but one thing I did notice is that Marcus Rashford, when he came on, was the closest thing I've seen to the way Welbeck plays for England. And Hodgson loves that, so it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Rashford getting more playing time in a 4-3-3 system.

Overall England's start to the tournament has given me real hope, because I don't think I've actually seen a team play better than we have. England have lacked a cutting edge at times, but in terms of general play there has been no team more impressive.