Tottenham Hotspur fans love to serenade local lad Harry Kane with the chant “He’s One of Our Own” but the whole of England will be singing his name if his rich scoring streak takes his country deep into Euro 2016.
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Hodgson is understood to be leaning towards using Harry Kane as the central striker with captain Wayne Rooney on the left of the attacking trident.
The Spurs star is also delighted to see so many of his team-mates alongside him in the England set-up after an impressive season at White Hart Lane.
Leicester City star Jamie Vardy is missing the game to get married and Harry Kane will reportedly be rested, opening the door for Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford to make his global debut.
All money raised from the track will go to the V9 Academy, which has been set up by Vardy to give the chance for 42 unknown footballers from the lower leagues to make it into the big-time like him.
“The amount of time we’re going to have with him (Rashford) is very, very short”, Hodgson said.
“I don’t think the team spirit has been at its strongest in the past but these current players are willing to learn as they’re young”.
“There isn’t an very bad lot of chance for him to stamp his authority on myself and the coaching staff when there is such a short period of time”.
“I played the holding role before and I really enjoy that, and against Turkey I was a bit higher up and enjoyed that too”.
Rooney played a starring role from midfield in Manchester United’s 2-1 FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace on Saturday. “He was more than happy to play in either system and I think it was a success because he’s come away with a penalty and a goal”.
England beat Turkey 2-1 on Sunday and have two more friendly matches – against Australia and Portugal on 2 June – before their first Euro 2016 Group B match against Russian Federation on 11 June. Wilshere lasted 66 minutes of the 2-1 win against Turkey on Sunday but Hodgson said he was not unduly concerned if the Arsenal player still lacks fitness.
Maintaining the wedding theme, many would venture that Vardy’s stunning season has been one long honeymoon, with highs following with the regularity of London buses.
“I’m rather hoping he is going to be able to join us, and we hope that with every training session and every week he is going to get fitter”.
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“He’s a fantastic player, full of goals, full of optimism, full of confidence”, Sheringham said. But I put a lot of work into them. ‘It’s tough. If we can get out of the group then I wouldn’t be surprised if we get to the quarter or semi-finals’.
