England Euro 2016 squad: Wildcard Marcus Rashford squeezed Danny Drinkwater out of trip to France

Marcus Rashford will travel to Euro 2016 as Roy Hodgson’s wildcard selection after claiming the final seat on the plane to France at the expense of Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater.

Manchester United forward Rashford, who scored eight goals in 18 senior appearances for the FA Cup winners after making his first-team debut against FC Midtjylland on 25 February, was named as one of Hodgson’s five forwards in England’s 23-man squad after the manager eschewed caution by choosing the 18-year-old ahead of the defensive midfielder who proved so crucial to Leicester’s Premier League title triumph.

Daniel Sturridge, the injury-ravaged Liverpool forward, has also been handed a place in the squad by Hodgson, who selected the 26-year-old ahead of Newcastle United winger Andros Townsend when reducing his 25-man pool to finalise his travelling party for France ahead of Uefa’s 11pm deadline on Tuesday.

With the squad training at Watford on Tuesday morning, Hodgson spoke to Drinkwater and Townsend individually in his room at lunchtime, following a brief meeting with his coaching staff, to inform them of their failure to make the cut.

The remaining 23 players were then summoned to a meeting in an analysis room at the team’s headquarters at The Grove before being told by Hodgson that they had been selected for Euro 2016.

Drinkwater, whose absence from the squad leaves Tottenham’s Eric Dier as the only specialist holding midfielder, tweeted his disappointment at missing out shortly after the Football Association published Hodgson’s confirmed 23.

“Disappointed not to make the final 23!” Drinkwater tweeted.“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 seasons been a huge positive for me.. Going into next season as a premier league champion! Good luck to the lads... Bring it home.”

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Rashford’s inclusion in the squad, just three months after emerging at United, is ultimately no surprise following his startling debut against Australia in Sunderland last Friday, when the teenager scored just three minutes into the game. Prior to Danny Welbeck being ruled out of contention with a knee injury three weeks ago, Hodgson had been keen to allow Rashford to develop under the radar with England’s Under-20 team.

However, the loss of Welbeck and Rashford’s ongoing progress prompted Hodgson to hand the youngster an opportunity by naming him in his 26-man pre-tournament squad. Rashford has since impressed, both in training and against Australia, leaving Hodgson with no choice but hand the youngster a place in his Euro 2016 squad.

By selecting seven defenders, Dier’s ability to operate in midfield and at centre-half left Hodgson comfortable with the decision to select Rashford as a fifth forward rather than bolster his midfield with Drinkwater. And despite Sturridge’s injury problems - the forward only trained for the first time on Monday following a calf problem - the former Chelsea player’s goalscoring record ensured he would always earn selection should he prove his fitness.

Ross Barkley, who has suffered a loss of form with Everton in recent months, has secured a place in the squad with Hodgson and his coaching team keen to be patient with the 22-year-old, who emerged from the World Cup in Brazil two years ago as one of England’s few positives.

England’s squad, with an average age of 25.39 years, will be one of the youngest in France and despite concerns over the fitness of Sturridge, Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson, Hodgson is confident that each of his players is now fit enough to be considered to start the Group B opener against Russia in Marseille on 11 June.