Who's going to Euro 2016...with England?

By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88

Roy Hodgson has some tough decisions to make next week

On Monday morning, Roy Hodgson will announce the 23 players who will represent England at this summer’s European Championships in France. Places are still up for grabs and Hodgson (pictured) has some tough decisions and difficult phone calls to make over the next few days.

Injuries have ruled out Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland and the Arsenal pairing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck. Some players will be certainties of heading to France but others face an anxious wait.

I’ve decided to predict who I think Hodgson will select on Monday.

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Fraser Forster, Tom Heaton

Barring any injuries on the final day of the Premier League season, Joe Hart and Fraser Forster will definitely be in the final 23-man party. Hodgson has one decision to make and that is who to take as the third goalkeeper. It will be a straight shootout between Tom Heaton and Ben Foster. Foster and Hodgson have a great relationship going back to the days when Roy was his manager at West Bromwich Albion. However, Heaton has had an excellent season with Burnley in the Championship and made the last four squads, even if he is still awaiting his maiden cap. I’d take Heaton but it is almost a coin toss between these two.

Right-Backs: Nathaniel Clyne, Kyle Walker

This position won’t give the manager too many sleepless nights. He has trusted Nathaniel Clyne and Kyle Walker throughout the qualification games and there isn’t any evidence to suggest of other contenders to usurp this pair. Clyne probably gets the nod as regular starter and is a better all-round defender but Walker offers strong strength in-depth. This is a straightforward selection.

Left-Backs: Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand

Tottenham Hotspur’s Danny Rose was highly impressive in Berlin in March during England’s fabulous fightback to beat the world champions. His excellent season at club level has parachuted him to the top of left-back choices for Hodgson. There has been talk that Rose might be the only left-back in the squad, but when there are options including Aaron Cresswell and Leighton Baines, the manager would be foolish to do this. Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand is an excellent deputy and has the ability to put pressure on Rose to start matches. He should be selected ahead of the other competition.

Centre-Backs: Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill, John Stones

Will it be three or four centre-backs? It is a problem area for Roy – an area that hasn’t been dominated since John Terry’s international retirement in September 2012. For me, I’d go with taking just three natural centre-backs. Chris Smalling has been one of Manchester United’s shining lights this campaign and he is likely to begin alongside Gary Cahill for the tournament opener against Russia. John Stones is in very ropey form in an Everton side lacking confidence, results and now, a manager. Stones’ natural ability though would make him a solid back-up if injury strikes.

Defensive Midfielders: Eric Dier, Danny Drinkwater

Three centre-backs are enough. That is because Eric Dier is more than capable of playing in the role if required. Dier has played there previously, although as he has demonstrated all season for Tottenham Hotspur that a role infront of the backline looks to be his more suitable position for the remainder of his career. Having been selected for the first time in March against the Netherlands, Danny Drinkwater deserves his opportunity of featuring in a major international tournament over the likes of Michael Carrick.

Central Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, James Milner

Having injured his knee against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Europa League in April, Jordan Henderson was a serious doubt ahead of the competition. The England vice-captain’s fitness will be monitored very closely and I wouldn’t be surprised even if Hodgson picked an extra player to take Henderson’s place in the squad if he doesn’t recover in time. If he is fit, he will go – simple as that. With his natural versatility and consistency, James Milner’s place in the squad is not in doubt.

Attacking Midfielders: Dele Alli, Ross Barkley

These two are bright sparks and could be the wildcards in Hodgson’s selection pack. Ross Barkley does have experience at international tournament level, having sneaked into the 2014 World Cup squad. However he is probably behind Dele Alli when it comes to a starting XI berth. Alli has had a sensational season and already made a big impact in England games too. If he keeps his temperament under control, he is one to watch this summer in France.

Wide Midfielders: Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling, Andros Townsend

Adam Lallana is a definite pick but this area is a hard selection for Roy Hodgson, even with Oxlade-Chamberlain’s absence. Aaron Lennon’s impressive form has probably come slightly too late, whilst Raheem Sterling’s lack of football at Manchester City has even put his squad place in jeopardy. Even in a Newcastle team that ultimately lost its relegation battle, Andros Townsend has starred and done exactly what was asked by one of his biggest fans in the England manager. Theo Walcott is definitely in contention too but his international jinx will continue in my view. I’d take Sterling and Townsend, although Lallana is the only likely starter for the group games.

Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge

Welbeck’s latest cruel injury blow, which has ruled him out for nine months has made the forward line weaker but also probably ended any dilemmas in this area for the manager. Daniel Sturridge has proved his fitness for Liverpool FC in the last four months and he will take his place in the squad alongside skipper Wayne Rooney, Leicester’s star forward Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane, who should wrap up the Premier League Golden Boot at the weekend. Talk of a fifth striker has been mentioned but these four should have enough firepower between them to not need any other competition.

Who won’t board the plane?

In my prediction, Jack Wilshere is the obvious omission. I think he is too big a risk to take for the manager. He has practically missed the entire season with Arsenal and hasn’t had enough time to prove his fitness. He still has a huge part to play in England’s future but not at Euro 2016.

For Theo Walcott, question marks will be asked about what he should do next. Selected so young for the 2006 World Cup, he has missed the 2010 and 2014 finals and is not a regular at club level. He might need to leave Arsenal if he wants to establish himself again with the current England boss.

Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Michael Carrick all miss the cut too and at their ages, I would expect international retirement announcements in the coming days should they not feature in Hodgson’s plans. Injuries mean this competition comes too soon for the Manchester United pair Phil Jones and Luke Shaw.

Marcus Rashford has plenty of time to make his mark, and if they keep performing well at club level, there could be a future in the World Cup 2018 qualification campaign for Mark Noble, Scott Dann and Troy Deeney. Not so for Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe, who were never considered in the qualification campaign and are too far down the pecking order in the attacking department.

Whatever final decisions Roy Hodgson makes, there will be some disappointed players come next Monday.