England boss Roy Hodgson has revealed that Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford is unlikely to be in the Three Lions squad for Euro 2016
England boss Roy Hodgson has stated that he is unlikely to select Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford in his squad for Euro 2016, despite the teenagers rise and impressive performances for the Red Devils in recent months.
A very bold decision
Talking to Sky Sports about Rashford, Hodgson said: “I think it would be a very bold decision to put him in and I think it would mean possibly leaving someone behind who, at the moment in my opinion, has more reason to be called up.
“But you never know. The fact is it would be foolish as well to say ‘no, no, he’s not ready, he can’t do it’. I am sure he could do it.
“I am sure if there was enough spaces available and if we were taking 30, we’d certainly probably be considering him. But when it’s 23, and we’ve already got a bit of a headache with the front players as to who we might have to leave out.
“To put another one in there who is 18 years of age, has four or five games, is asking a lot. But I have been impressed with him. He wouldn’t have kept his place in the United team if Louis van Gaal didn’t think he was worthy of a place in the team.
“But it looks unlikely to me with the current players we’ve got and the competition for places in that area of the field.”
England has very good forward options
England heads into this summer’s European Championship with a number of very good attacking options. In fact probably the most in-form attacking options the Three Lions have had going into a major tournament in a good while.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane is first choice striker, while Leicester star Jamie Vardy offers the Three Lions a very different attacking option to Kane. Then of course there is captain Wayne Rooney, who is likely to start for England in the number ten role.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is a good option when fit and is one of the most clinical strikers England has available to them. His performances for the Reds of late have been encouraging and if he finishes the campaign in form and fit then he must be in the squad.
Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has impressed in flashes since his return from injury and is a Roy Hodgson favourite, so looks likely to be in the squad.
West Ham striker Andy Carroll has also been in fine form since returning from injury and offers a physical attacking option for the Three Lions, but it seems that Roy Hodgson has basically ruled out including the former-Newcastle striker in the squad.
Marcus Rashford has made a highly promising start to his United career, but for me the youngster has not played enough for United to be considered in front of the more senior options in the squad.
Rashford has made just 13 senior appearances for United and his tally of seven goals is pretty impressive. The 18-year-old’s international career has consisted of just one appearance for England’s under-20 team though.
It would take injuries to at least two of the current contenders for the squad for Rashford to get into the Euro 2016 squad. Judging by the likes of Welbeck and Sturridge’s recent injury history that scenario is not impossible.
I doubt many would complain if the youngster was selected if the Three Lions had injuries, but his inclusion instead of a fully-fit Daniel Sturridge or Andy Carroll would raise eyebrows.
Exciting attacking options
England are outsiders to win Euro 2016 and are odds of 8/1 to win their first major international competition in 50 years. I will not claim that the Three Lions are going to win the competition, because that would be naïve, but the attacking options that England have are exciting.
Rashford’s emergence has been exciting for United fans, but Euro 2016 may have come slightly too early for the youngster. However, if he continues in a similar vein to how he has started his United career then no doubt he will star for England at future international tournaments.
Should Marcus Rashford be going to Euro 2016 with England?
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