Marcus Rashford and Daniel Sturridge have been named in England’s Euro 2016 squad with Danny Drinkwater and Andros Townsend missing out.
England boss Roy Hodgson has opted for five strikers in his 23-man party for the tournament in France after Manchester United’s Rashford, 18, made an immediate impact by scoring on his international debut against Australia last Friday.
There had been speculation that Liverpool forward Sturridge, who has been hampered by injury problems this season and missed the last two friendlies with a calf problem, could be left out as a result, but Leicester midfielder Drinkwater and Newcastle winger Townsend have been omitted instead.
Hodgson spoke to the pair individually to inform them of his decision when they returned to England’s base at The Grove following Tuesday morning’s training session at Watford’s training ground. The manager then called a meeting with his final 23 at around 1.30pm to tell them the news.
The other members of England’s coaching staff were consulted about the make-up of the final party but it is understood to be very much Hodgson’s squad.
Townsend and Drinkwater therefore follow Manchester City’s Fabian Delph, who was dropped from the provisional 26-man squad due to a groin injury last week, in leaving the England training camp.
Drinkwater, who made the first of three England appearances in March, was quick to offer his backing to the team after being overlooked by Hodgson.
He wrote on his Instagram account: “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’s been a huge positive for me. Going into next season as a Premier League champion! Good luck to the lads… Bring it home #england.”
And Townsend adopted a similar tone, tweeting: “Obviously gutted to fall at the final hurdle but wishing the boys all the best of luck at Euro 2016 #ComeOnEngland.”
The squad contains three goalkeepers, seven defenders and eight midfielders as well as the five forwards and is the youngest ever England squad for a European Championship with an average age of 25, with only four players remaining from Euro 2012.
England play Portugal at Wembley on Thursday in their final warm-up game before heading to their French training base in Chantilly.
They open their Euro 2016 Group B campaign with a match against Russia in Marseille on Saturday June 11 before taking on Wales in Lens on Thursday June 16 and Slovakia in Saint-Etienne on Monday June 20.
Squad (with official tournament number)
Goalkeepers: 1 Joe Hart, 13 Fraser Forster, 23 Tom Heaton.
Defenders: 2 Kyle Walker, 3 Danny Rose, 5 Gary Cahill, 6 Chris Smalling, 12 Nathaniel Clyne, 16 John Stones, 21 Ryan Bertrand.
Midfielders: 4 James Milner, 7 Raheem Sterling, 8 Adam Lallana, 14 Jordan Henderson, 17 Eric Dier, 18 Jack Wilshere, 19 Ross Barkley, 20 Dele Alli.
Forwards: 9 Harry Kane, 10 Wayne Rooney, 11 Jamie Vardy, 15 Daniel Sturridge, 22 Marcus Rashford.
Source:Skysports
