Marcus Rashford should start over Raheem Sterling in England's last group game, says Sam Allardyce

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Former England manager Sam Allardyce says Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford should start the final World Cup group game against Belgium ahead of Raheem Sterling.

Gareth Southgate’s side sealed their place in the knockout stages with a record breaking 6-1 win against Panama on Sunday.

There had been suggestions Rashford could start ahead of Sterling after a photo of assistant Steve Holland’s notes during an open training session appeared to show the 20-year-old playing alongside Harry Kane.

While that was not the case in Nizhny Novgorod, Allardyce says his natural goalscoring ability should see him start against Belgium.

“I can’t see any reason why Gareth shouldn’t play Marcus Rashford against Belgium,” Allardyce told Talksport.

“Raheem Sterling hasn’t delivered what we know he can deliver and what he has delivered at Manchester City.

“Unfortunately for him for two games he hasn’t shone quite as much as he has this season.

“So you’ve got to say why not Rashford? It’s not a must-win game, it’s almost a free game.

“Yes, we want to carry on the momentum, but Marcus Rashford scored a terrific goal in the friendly he played in.”

In Pictures | England vs Panama, World Cup | 24/06/2018

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He added: “I wouldn’t say Raheem Sterling is a natural goalscorer, even though he got a huge amount of goals for Man City last season.

“Sterling is not as natural a goalscorer as Rashford, and the more goalscorers you have on the pitch the better chance you’ve got of going all the way”

England’s game against Roberto Martinez’s in Kaliningrad will be a straight play-off for top spot in Group G.

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