The 18-year-old went on to score 138 seconds into Friday’s global debut and was named man of the match in the 2-1 friendly win against Australia, complementing some impressive training displays.
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England play Portugal and Wales face Sweden this week in their final warm-up games.
England face Portugal on Thursday evening in their final warm-up fixture before departing for France, where they kick off their Euro 2016 campaign in Group B against Russian Federation on June 11.
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge was a major doubt after missing the friendly with Australia on Friday but appears to have done enough to prove his fitness.
Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling have been included despite poor form in recent weeks, while Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson earned places as expected, having worked their way back to full fitness.
Teammate Jordan Henderson is also picked, meaning there will be five Reds players in Hodgson’s squad.
“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”.
The rest of the squad were informed of Hodgson’s selections at a team meeting shortly afterwards. “He has special qualities”, said the England boss.
Drinkwater, who made his England debut in March, said on Instagram he was disappointed not to have made the cut but added that the season had otherwise been “a huge positive”.
“In all honesty, I can’t really see him playing”.
“It’s tough because you don’t want to put pressure on it, but I’d like to think we’re among the contenders”, he told Everton’s official website. He’s shown what he can do at global level. ‘I am not prepared to say the side that starts tomorrow will start versus Russian Federation’.
Newcastle winger Townsend missed the World Cup two years ago through injury and was regularly picked by Hodgson, even when struggling for game-time at former club Tottenham.
Hodgson initially named a 26-man squad after the final round of Premier League games, having meant to reveal his final selection on 12 May until injury concerns prompted a delay.
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Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus has been cut from Germany’s European Championship squad, and captain Bastian Schweinsteiger has made the final list despite injury.
