TERRY BUTCHER insists Wayne Rooney must start for England at Euro 2016 as leaving the Manchester United man out of the line-up would only put fire into the bellies of the opposition.

Butcher knows what it means to captain your nation at a major tournament. He took over from the injured Bryan Robson during the 1990 World Cup and led the Three Lions to that memorable defeat at the hands of Germany on a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals.

It is an armband that brings particular pressures with it and Rooney, its latest custodian, has found it certainly does not insulate him against questions over where best to utilise his talents and whether he should even be included in Roy Hodgson’s side at all.

Certainly, his optimal position is a matter of some debate right now with the player that burst onto the scene as a high-energy striker now looking towards a future in midfield.

Rooney played the role commendably at Old Trafford towards the end of the season, but started as a deep-lying forward in England’s underwhelming 1-0 win over Portugal last Thursday, with Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane playing wide.

The triumvirate's ineffectiveness has led to criticism and fresh questions over where best to play Rooney, but Butcher is in no doubt that the skipper has to be part of the starting line-up for the Group B opener against Russia on Saturday.

"You can play him in a variety of positions and I just think he should be in the team," stated the former Motherwell, Hibernian and Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager.

"He is England's talisman. He's England's best player for me, the most experienced player in terms of tournaments.

"He's leading England into a tournament for the first time in his career, which is a lovely feeling.

"I think we'll get the best out of him, wherever we play him - midfield, on the left, behind, further forwards, whatever.

"I just think he has to be in the team because countries look at England and say: 'If Rooney's playing, we've got to watch him'.

"If he's not playing, the teams will say: '”We've got a good chance now'. It comes down to that for me."

Butcher has been impressed by the way Rooney has grown into the captaincy since succeeding Steven Gerrard in the wake of the World Cup.

The chastening experience of Brazil still hurts him two years on, but this is a squad in transition, with much of the old guard having been replaced by young, unfettered talent.

England's squad is the youngest of the 24 heading to Euro 2016 and Butcher cannot wait to see how they fare in France.

"It think it's an exciting squad," said the one-time Rangers captain, speaking on behalf of Vauxhall, the England Team sponsor.

"There's always something happening whether it is at the back or up front, so I don't think there will be any dull nil-nils.

"I find it exciting, the whole way England play. The whole squad is made up with good young players and also some bits of experience dotted everywhere, mainly through the centre of the team.

"You look at [Joe] Hart, [Gary] Cahill, [James] Milner, Rooney - they've got some good solid players there.

"I think there are more combinations and options available to Roy in this squad than there have been in a lot of squads since I've played."

Among those making their first appearance at a major tournament is Eric Dier, whose seven caps have been restricted to friendly matches.

The 22-year-old has flourished this season having been transformed into a defensive midfielder and his ability to play in the backline makes him "England's most important player", in Butcher's opinion.

"When England are most vulnerable is when we're attacking,” said Butcher. "That's why I say Dier is so key to mop things up in front of that back four.

"We have had problems at the back, but I just think cometh the hour, cometh the men."

Meanwhile, Paul Ince, another former England captain, believes Sunderland veteran Jermain Defoe should have been included in Hodgson's squad instead of Manchester United teenager Marcus Rashford.

Defoe last appeared for England as a substitute in a 2-0 friendly defeat to Chile at Wembley in November 2013 and was controversially left out of Hodgson's squad for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.

"The last three or four months, back end of the season, he probably kept Sunderland up on his own with the goals he scored,” said Ince. “He's a natural finisher.

"As much as everyone's gone over the top about Rashford, I would have taken Jermain Defoe before him, if I'm being totally honest.

"Rashford's one where, for me, it's too early.”

Ince took time out from promoting a short film entitled 'The Guv'Nor', in which he stars alongside Jimmy Bullard as part of a Carling advertisement campaign, to express the view that Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli has the potential to be the star of the show for England.

"At times, he's been a little bit petulant and done things which we all do, but he's got a bit of arrogance which I like,” said Ince. "If he can just calm that a bit and play the way he's been playing, I think he can go on to be a great player and I say 'great' because sometimes we use that word too easily."

* Football legend Paul Ince has teamed up with Carling to celebrate Carling's Pay Per Inch promotion, giving you the chance to win a brand new TV for the price of its screen size. Visit www.PayPerInchTV.com or follow @Carling on Twitter for more information.