England announce preliminary 26 man Euro 2016 squad

England will be looking for a good performance in this Euros

England manager Roy Hodgson has announced his preliminary 26 man squad for the Euros to be held in France this year. Their squad contains a good mix of youth and experience with many players having had wonderful seasons for their respective clubs.

There was no surprise inclusion for Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe with Manchester United’s teenage sensation Marcus Rashford getting the nod. There were some surprise inclusions in the squad such as Newcastle United’s Andros Townsend, Manchester City’s Fabian Delph and Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand ahead of Everton’s Leighton Baines.

Hodgson will be choosing his final 23-man squad from this group of 26 players. Premier League title winners Leicester City have two representatives in Danny Drinkwater and Jamie Vardy. Liverpool’s injury prone star man Daniel Sturridge has also been included in the back of his good form with his team-mates Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and James Milner also joining him on this list.

Jack Butland’s injury meant that Tom Heaton will travel to France along with Joe Hart and Fraser Foster as England’s goalkeepers for the marquee tournament. The forward line looks threatening with Premier League’s golden boot winner Harry Kane being joined by Jamie Vardy, Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and the aforementioned Daniel Sturridge.

Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere will also be delighted to make the squad after an injury scare had almost ruled him out of the Euros

England have left themselves slightly bare at the back choosing to take only three recognised centre-backs in their preliminary 26 man squad. John Stones, Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill will be at the heart of the Three Lions’ defence.

The injury to Welbeck and the loss of form to Walcott has opened doors for players like Rashford and Townsend. Here is the full 26 man preliminary squad:

The squad

Goalkeepers

Joe Hart, Fraser Forster, Tom Heaton

Defenders

Nathaniel Clyne, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand, Chris Smalling, John Stones, Gary Cahill

Midfielders

Dele Alli, Ross Barkley, Fabian Delph, Danny Drinkwater, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling, Jack Wilshere, Andros Townsend

Forwards

Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Daniel Sturridge

Three players will be dropped from this list for the final 23 man squad which will be out in two weeks time