Hodgson's Euro 2012 selection is simplified

Unlike most England managers, Hodgson does not have the luxury of a bedding-in period. This afternoon, he names the 23 players that will compete in this summer’s European Championships. In 26 days, they take on France in their opening game.

The stakes could hardly be higher, but in a strange way Hodgson’s task is simplified by the lack of options available to him.

There is simply not the scope for radical alterations.

A new guard is beginning to emerge, but only a handful of players have suggested they are good enough or experienced enough to succeed in a major tournament.

Nevertheless, many of the issues that plagued Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello remain. Should Hodgson pick John Terry? Have the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry had too many chances at international level? Is anyone capable of replacing Wayne Rooney, who is suspended for England’s opening two games?

Today, we will discover Hodgson’s thoughts. But ahead of the announcement, there are questions in every area of the field.

GOALKEEPERS

THE simplest of Hodgson’s tasks – provided Joe Hart stays fit. The Manchester City goalkeeper has had an excellent season and is firmly established as England’s number one.

Beneath him, however, there is a void. Ben Foster and Paul Robinson, both of whom could realistically be Hodgson’s number two, are adamant they will not be coaxed out of international retirement.

That probably leaves Scott Carson as the best alternative, although it is harrowing to imagine England starting a tournament with the Turkey-based shot-stopper should anything happen to Hart.

A number three? David Stockdale filled the role under Capello, but his firstteam experience is limited.

John Ruddy has impressed for Norwich City this season and deserves to gain some experience in the squad.

SCOTT WILSON'S SELECTION
Scott Carson (Bursaspor)
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
John Ruddy (Norwich)

DEFENCE

NOW, the fun begins.

Clearly, the biggest decision revolves around Terry, who skippered England in the last World Cup but is facing charges of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League game earlier this season.

Forget the disciplinary stuff though. Terry does not deserve a place in the squad because he is simply not good enough. His shortcomings were exposed as Germany ran riot two years ago, and he was all at sea against Liverpool in Chelsea’s penultimate Premier League fixture. It is time to put him out to pasture and move on.

Might the same be true of Rio Ferdinand? It’s tempting to scrap two of the old guard in one swoop.

But Terry’s long-term partner has been in decent form for Manchester United and England need at least a modicum of tournament experience at the back.

With that in mind, Ferdinand scrapes in.

Phil Jones deserves a place – partly because of his versatility – and the other two centre-half spots are probably between Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill.

I’d go for the first two.

Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines pick themselves at left-back, but on the opposite flank, Glen Johnson has already had one chance too many.

Micah Richards would have been a much better bet as would Kyle Walker, but he is injured.

SCOTT WILSON'S SELECTION
Leighton Baines(Everton)
Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
Phil Jagielka (Everton)
Phil Jones (Manchester United)
Joleon Lescott (Manchester City)
Micah Richards (Manchester City)
Kyle Walker (Tottenham)

MIDFIELD

GERRARD, Lampard, Barry?

Here we go again.

Undoubtedly the most under-performing section of the much-tarnished golden generation, England’s midfield is ripe for a major shake-up.

But where is the emerging talent? Jack Wilshere would have merited a starting spot, but an ankle injury means he will not be travelling to Ukraine. Tom Cleverley and Jordan Henderson have been capped at senior level, but neither has done enough to warrant a place.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?

Still relatively unproven at Arsenal, but thanks to youthful exuberance alone, probably worth a shout.

Gerrard remains England’s best attacking midfielder, and Lampard has done enough this season to earn a place on the bench. I’d draw the line at Barry though. Yes, he has performed well with Manchester City, but he is painfully slow, a weakness that was brutally exposed by Germany’s pacy midfielders in South Africa.

Similarly, I’d call time on the international careers of James Milner – jack of all trades, master of none – and Aaron Lennon, who has wasted a succession of chances at international level.

The same could be said of both Theo Walcott and Stewart Downing, but in the absence of viable alternatives, both should survive.

Adam Johnson has threatened to break through in the past, but he couldn’t even make the Manchester City squad on the final weekend and needs regular club football to rediscover his form.

The final two midfield spots are certainties – Ashley Young, who was arguably England’s best player in the qualifying campaign, and Scott Parker, whose importance as a holding midfielder makes this week’s injury scare particularly problematic.

SCOTT WILSON'S SELECTION
Stewart Downing (Liverpool)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)
Scott Parker (Tottenham)
Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
Ashley Young (Manchester United)

STRIKERS

THE good news? Rooney remains England’s one world-class talent. The bad news? He’ll miss the first two group games thanks to his senseless sending off in Montenegro.

Nevertheless, he still has to go to Ukraine because if England can survive the group stage, they’ll definitely need him from the quarter-finals onwards.

Who will start the opening two matches? Provided he’s fit, it should be Darren Bent.

Can Hodgson risk taking a far-from-fully-fit striker with Rooney suspended though?

Given the lack of goalscoring threat elsewhere, I don’t really think he has a choice.

Danny Welbeck deserves his place after a strong season with Manchester United, and with just seven midfielders selected, there is scope for two more attackers.

While Capello clearly did not rate him, Peter Crouch’s scoring record for his country makes a compelling argument for his inclusion.

He’s been in decent form this season and could even start against France if Bent’s fitness is an issue.

The final spot? A choice between Daniel Sturridge, Grant Holt and Andy Carroll. The former is too similar to Welbeck to need both, while Holt is a decent Premier League player, but no more. For all his troubles with Liverpool this term, I’d take Carroll as a potential game-changer from the bench.

SCOTT WILSON'S SELECTION
Darren Bent (Aston Villa)
Andy Carroll (Liverpool)
Peter Crouch (Stoke)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)