With the cut off date for Roy Hodgson to name his final 23 man squad rapidly approaching there’s questions over who’ll fall from the current 26. We can’t imagine that a player that played one minute for Aston Villa will make it so sorry Fabian Delph. But that leaves four more players to fit two spaces – Andros Townsend, Danny Drinkwater, Jack Wilshere and Marcus Rashford. Townsend has had his chance to impress before and done very little.
After both Kane and Vardy netted against Turkey, it got us thinking about the teens chances. Here’s why Rashford should be brought to Reims.
We know that Wayne Rooney and Danny Sturridge will not be cut from the squad. So in reality, it leaves one of the other three strikers that won’t make it.
All three have proved that they can score but for all the talk of it being Rashford that’ll get dropped, is that really the right decision?
- Rashford has 8 goals from 17 appearances in 2015-16
- He’s got an 89% shot accuracy – higher than Kane and Vardy’s
- All three had scoring hot streaks – but is Vardy as reliable after going five straight without scoring during the year?
And its not as if Rashford’s goals have been tap ins from 3 yards against Sunderland. He’s got a brace in the Europa League, a brace against Arsenal to back that up , a winner in a Manchester derby and then a stunning strike in the FA Cup semi final against West Ham. He can do it on the big ocassions.
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It would be an incredible risk to name Rashford in the final 23 man squad but there is a massive danger should Roy do it. Theo Walcott was named in Sven’s 2006 World Cup squad but didn’t play a minute during the tournament. Despite England qualifying for the World Cups in 2010 and 2014 as well as Euro 2012, Walcott has only played 81 minutes of football at an international tournament since 2006.
Let’s say Roy starts with Kane and Vardy with Rooney perhaps in midfield and they’re losing against Russia. Your first sub is Sturridge, your second has to be Rashford. His record is too good not to bring on.
But that’s only if he makes it. He’s to make the final 23 and to start against Russia compared to odds of for Vardy to start and a very short for Kane. Not surprising, the Spurs star has 32 goals in 59 games this year.
It’s probably a bit late for Jack Grealish to switch back, but Rashford is one teen that should be on the plane.