Euro 2016: England squad announced

Roy Hodgson has named his 23-man squad for France Euro 2016 as England stick with five strikers, with three midfielders failing to make the final cut.

Marcus Rashford impressed on his England debut after scoring against Australia last week and has been rewarded with a place in the squad. Daniel Sturridge will also travel to France after proving his fitness to Roy Hodgson after missing the last two friendly matches through injury.

Rashford's inclusion caps a memorable end to his breakthrough season at Manchester United after making his senior debut in February at Old Trafford. The 18-year old scored 8 goals in 18 games for United and scored three minutes into his England debut last week at the Stadium of Light.

However, Fabian Delph misses out through injury with Danny Drinkwater and Andros Townsend being left out in favour of Jack Wilshere and an extra striker.

England will now face Portugal in their final Euro 2016 warm-up game on Thursday at Wembley as England supporters and Roy Hodgson take a final look at their squad before they travel to France to take on Russia in Marseille on 11th June for their opening Euro 2016 match.

Fabian Delph was already ruled out after picking up a groin injury in training, however this afternoon Hodgson has confirmed that Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater will miss out after an impressive season at Premier League champions Leicester City.

Jack Wilshere has made the final squad after starting only one match for Arsenal all season, with Ross Barkley also being preferred in midfield to Drinkwater.

Following the announcement, Drinkwater tweeted: “@DannyDrinkwater: Disappointed not to make the final 23! Would of been a fantastic experience to go to the Euros as a player...But I’ll be supporting the country like I always have! The season has been a huge positive for me. Going into next season as a premier league champion!” He added: “Good luck to the lads, bring it home #England”

A resurgent Andros Townsend also has not done enough to convince the England coaches that he is worth a place on the plane to France. The winger was included in the original 26-man squad after numerous eye catching displays at Newcastle United after joining from Tottenham Hotspur in January, but he too misses out and will be left at home this summer.

Hodgson has decided to take three goalkeepers, seven defenders, eight midfielders and five strikers to France, but it is still uncertain as to what system the England boss will play. With a potent attacking threat it looks more likely that Wayne Rooney will find himself playing in a deeper role with the likes of Harry Kane and Daniel Sturridge to play in front of him. A 4-1-2-1-2 system looks a possibility but in the past Hodgson tends to use 4-3-3 or a 4-5-1 system with the likes of Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling providing the width on a front three.

The England Euro 2016 squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Fraser Forster, Tom Heaton;

Defenders: Nathaniel Clyne, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill, Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand;

Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Jack Wilshere, Ross Barkley, James Milner, Dele Alli, Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling;

Forwards: Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge, Marcus Rashford.