Hodgson names provisional 26-man squad for European Championships

England manager Roy Hodgson has named a provisional 26-man squad for this summer’s European Championships with three players to be dropped before the start of the tournament.

Surprisingly 18-year-old Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has been named in the extended English panel for the tournament following his impressive club form which has seen him establish himself as the club’s first choice striker, scoring seven goals in 17 matches.

Rashford joins his club mate and England captain Wayne Rooney, Premier League golden boot winner Harry Kane, Leicester City’s title-winner Jamie Vardy and Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge in England’s attack although there is no room for either Andy Carroll or Jermain Defoe in the squad.

Hodgson has named 11 midfielders, with Jack Wilshere the most significant inclusion having recovered from a year out with a catalogue of injury set-backs. Likewise, Jordon Henderson is also included having returned from injury in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

England have named seven defenders with Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines the most notable omissions, but their Everton team mate John Stones has been included as have Tottenham pair, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose.

The England manager has shown loyalty to Tom Heaton by selecting him as the team’s third choice ‘keeper ahead of Ben Foster. The former Manchester United and Bristol City stopper had an excellent season when captaining Burnley to the Championship title earlier this month.

Perhaps, the most significant talking points though from the squad announcement is the fact that Arsenal winger Theo Walcott and Manchester United vice-captain Michael Carrick have been left out of the 26-man squad named by Hodgson.

Although, neither have played as often as they have in seasons past, the inclusions of Fabian Delph and Andros Townsend will surely encourage heated debate as to the credibility of their insertions.

After naming the squad, England manager Roy Hodgson said: “Everyone enjoys saying 'This is what I would have done' but we've done a lot of work to analyse the players in the squad. As a coach, all you can do is prepare the team for one game at a time. We'll see how far that takes us.

"With the youth of this squad, I'd like to think it will have a long future. We go there with a desire to win the tournament."

Hodgson will cut his squad by May, 29 following friendly internationals with Turkey and Australia, before his final 23-man line-up faces Portugal on June, 2.

England open their Euro 2016 campaign in Marseille against Russia on June, 11 before they play neighbours Wales five days later in Lens (a game our reporter Gareth O’Reilly will be covering live from the stadium for us). The Three Lions end their group B campaign against Slovakia on June, 20.

The Provisional England Squad in Full:

Goakeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

Defenders: Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspurs), John Stones (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspurs).

Midfielders: Jordon Henderson (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Andros Townsend (Newcastle United), James Milner ((Liverpool), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspurs), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspurs), Ross Barkley (Everton), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Fabian Delph (Manchester City).

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspurs), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)