Hodgson’s final 23-man squad was announced on Tuesday, with Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater and Newcastle United winger Andros Townsend being cut from the group, along with the injured Fabian Delph.
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Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford caps his meteoric rise after being named in the squad following his goal scoring debut performance against Australia.
Question marks have been raised over Sturridge’s place after sustaining a calf strain during Liverpool’s Europa League final loss to Sevilla, ruling him out of Friday’s 2-1 friendly win against Australia in Sunderland.
“It was a very hard choice”, Hodgson told a packed press conference, “It was tough and in some ways I am satisfied I have the 23 I want to take”.
At the same time, Southampton full back Ryan Bertrand did not take part in the early session, but the extent of his injury is not yet known.
England manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed Wayne Rooney will start Thursday’s night global friendly against Portugal at Wembley. However, Drinkwater will now have to focus to Leicester’s title defense in the 2016-17 campaign, Independent reported. Would have been a fantastic experience to get to the Euros as a player.
“I’ve always believed I’ve been fortunate to benefit from being put in there as a 16-year-old, getting my chance and taking it”.
“The season’s been a huge positive for me”.
This has been an unforgettable season for the Premier League champion, but the fairytale will not end with a trip to France. “Good luck to the lads, bring it home”.
Hodgson’s decision to keep both Rashford and Sturridge means England will have three goalkeepers, seven defenders, eight midfielders and five forwards in France.
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But Redknapp insists Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and captain Wayne Rooney will all be ahead of teenager Rashford, who scored three minutes into his England debut last Friday, in the pecking order.
