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  Marcus Rashford in England squad

Marcus Rashford in England squad

AFP
Published : May 17, 2016, 1:24 am IST
Updated : May 17, 2016, 1:24 am IST

Manchester United’s teenage sensation Marcus Rashford and Newcastle United winger Andros Townsend were named in a provisional 26-man England squad for Euro 2016 on Monday.

Manchester United’s teenage sensation Marcus Rashford and Newcastle United winger Andros Townsend were named in a provisional 26-man England squad for Euro 2016 on Monday.

The uncapped Rashford, 18, has burst onto the scene with United this season, scoring seven goals in 16 games, while Townsend, who won the last of his 10 England caps in October, has impressed since joining Newcastle from Tottenham Hotspur in January.

Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson were both included after recent spells on the sidelines, but there was no place for Wilshere’s club-mate Theo Walcott.

Explaining Rashford’s call-up, England manager Roy Hodgson told a press conference at Wembley: “He deserves to be selected. It’ll be interesting to see what he can do, even if he only has one week (in training) before I name the final 23.

“There’s no reason why he couldn’t knock someone off their perch (and earn a place in the final squad). But that will be harder than some people expect.”

Hodgson must reduce his squad to 23 players for the tournament in France, which sees England drawn alongside Slovakia, Russia and neighbours Wales in Group B.

Arsenal pair Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck had already been ruled out of the tournament by injury, while Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has not returned to action since sustaining a double leg break last September.

Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka was another high-profile absentee, having struggled with injury in recent months, while there was an unexpected call-up for Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph.

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, Everton left-back Leighton Baines and in-form Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe all missed out.

Cacic names Croatia squad In Zagreb, Croatia coach Ante Cacic named a provisional 27-man squad, featuring the likes of Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic and Real Madrid’s Luka Modric but minus Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren. Lovren was told he would not be picked last month after demanding that he be guaranteed a starting place before accepting to go to the finals in France.

But Cacic stressed on Monday that the “doors are not closed to Lovren.” Provisional squads: England: Fraser Forster, Joe Hart, Tom Heaton, Ryan Bertrand, Gary Cahill, Nathaniel Clyne, Danny Rose, Chris Smalling, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Dele Alli, Ross Barkley, Fabian Delph, Eric Dier, Danny Drinkwater, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, James Milner, Raheem Sterling, Andros Townsend, Jack Wilshere, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Wayne Rooney (capt), Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy

Croatia: Danijel Subasic, Lovre Kalinic, Ivan Vargic, Dominik Livakovic, Darijo Srna, Vedran Corluka, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Strinic, Gordon Schildenfeld, Sime Vrsaljko, Tin Jedvaj, Duje Caleta-Car, Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic, Milan Badelj, Marcelo Brozovic, Alen Halilovic, Domagoj Antolic, Marko Rog, Ante Coric, Mario Mandzukic, Nikola Kalinic, Andrej Kramaric, Marko Pjaca, Duje Cop

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