Euro 2016: Michael Carrick urges Roy Hodgson to take Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford to France

Carrick believes Hodgson should gamble on including Rashford in his 23-man squad because 'he offers something different'

Michael Carrick believes Roy Hodgson should take Marcus Rashford to Euro 2016 (Getty)

Michael Carrick has urged Roy Hodgson to take a gamble and include Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford in his squad for the Euro 2016 Championship, even though the 18-year-old has played just one match for England.

Rashford became England’s youngest ever goalscoring debutant when he found the back of the net against Australia on Friday, breaking Tommy Lawton’s record set back in 1938. Having emerged as Louis van Gaal’s preferred striker towards the end of his reign as United manager, Rashford’s rise from academy squad member to Euro 2016 hopeful has been nothing short of phenomenal, and he is poised to discover is his performance in the 2-1 victory over Australia has been enough to secure him a place in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad for the Euros.

Hodgson will announce the three players who will miss out on the squad on Tuesday, with Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph certain to be one of them after suffering injury last week. That leaves two unlucky players facing European Championship heartbreak, but veteran midfielder Carrick does not believe that one of them should be Rashford.

“I think he’s done everything he possibly could to give himself a chance of being there,” Carrick told the BBC while visiting Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix. “I’d take him, I think he brings something different.”

With Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Wayne Rooney certain to be included in the squad, Hodgson appears to be weighing up either Daniel Sturridge or Rashford to complete his attack. However, with Sturridge’s injury troubles striking again last week, Rashford’s chances have been given a welcome boost – along with the fact that Rooney has finished the season with United as a midfielder rather than a striker.

Sturridge trained along with the rest of the squad at The Grove in Watford on Monday morning, although defender Ryan Bertrand missed the session after picking up a knock.


 Carrick feels Rashford can offer something different for England 
 (Getty)

Midfielders Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson also took part in training and appear to be closing in on full fitness that could see them both selected for the squad and lead to Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater missing out. Wilshere and Henderson only recovered from injury shortly before Hodgson named his squad, which led to Carrick missing out on selection in what could effectively be a decision that ends his international career.

Instead, Carrick is enjoying a break while weighing up his option for the new season. Carrick will turn 35 before the new season starts and he is out of contract with United, although there is suggestions that new manager Jose Mourinho will offer him a one-year extension in order to keep the experienced Premier League title winner at Old Trafford.

Carrick offered no hints on what his future may hold, although he did give his opinion on United’s appointment of Mourinho as Van Gaal’s successor.

“Obviously he’s a huge name, [a] huge presence,” Carrick added. “He fits the bill perfectly for Manchester United. I’m sure he’ll have a good time in the future.”