Danny Murphy has claimed that John Stones must start for England at Euro 2016 because he is the country's best centre-back.

The Everton defender played alongside Gary Cahill in Tuesday's friendly win over France but, with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones starting in the defeat to Spain on Friday, it appears that manager Roy Hodgson has not yet settled on his preferred partnership at the heart of defence.

Murphy, who played nine times for England, has said that Hodgson must find a place in his side for Stones, after the 21-year-old helped the Three Lions to keep a clean sheet against Les Bleus.

"Come the start of the Euros next year, I will be at the game and if John Stones isn't starting I will gladly walk down and get Roy, Ray Lewington and Gary Neville and slap them all with a wet fish because he is so far ahead of the other centre-halves in our country in terms of his ability to come out with the ball and pick a pass," Murphy told talkSPORT.

"He is just so comfortable. When you have got a centre-half who is good on the ball, able to go past someone, come out with the ball and see the bigger picture, as a midfielder and striker is frees up time for you and gives everyone more confidence in what you are trying to do.

"Smalling, Cahill, [Phil] Jagielka and Jones are all good players, all very talented lads but, for me, they are competing for one spot. If Stones is fit, he starts."

Stones has won seven caps for England.