MARCUS RASHFORD thrust himself to the forefront of England’s plans for Euro 2016 as he enjoyed a dream debut at the Stadium of Light – but Roy Hodgson claims he never doubted the teenager’s ability to star on the international stage.

Rashford scored within the opening three minutes of his England debut, with Wayne Rooney also netting as Hodgson’s side claimed a 2-1 win over Australia in their penultimate warm-up game ahead of the start of the European Championships.

The 18-year-old will discover if he has made it onto the plane for France when Hodgson submits his final 23-man squad to UEFA on Tuesday, and while Daniel Sturridge is expected to be fit for selection despite missing last night’s game with a calf strain, Rashford has enhanced his chances significantly with last night’s display.

He became England’s youngest ever debutant scorer when he lashed home after two minutes and 19 seconds, but Hodgson was always confident he would take the step up to international football in his stride.

“I thought he did well,” said the England boss. “I was asked the question before the game, was I nervous about putting him in or nervous that he wouldn’t be able to handle the situation. But my answer was that I wasn’t.

“I wasn’t that surprised with the way he played, and we had a further advantage that by changing our system to three forwards when Wayne Rooney came on, it gave us a chance to see if he (Rashford) would be capable of playing in one of the wide positions.

“He tired, and was obviously feeling the pace and intensity of the game, but that’s normal. I’m pleased for him. He was always one of the players who were seriously competing for a place in the 23, and he’s done his chances of travelling with us no harm.

“But nothing has changed really in that respect because he wouldn’t have been named in the 26 if we didn’t think he had a chance of being in the 23.”

Rashford’s prospects of being involved in France would be enhanced further if Sturridge was to be ruled out, although Hodgson is hoping the Liverpool striker will be fit enough to train on Monday.

Even if he does not join in training in two days’ time, however, the England boss claims the striker will still be considered for the Euros because his injury will not prevent him from appearing in the opening group game with Russia in two weeks’ time.

“If it turns out that his injury will keep him out of the Euros, or that he would be unavailable for when we play Russia in Marseille, that would make a difference,” said Hodgson.

“But I have had no indication that the seriousness of the injury is such that it’s putting his chances of playing in France at any risk at all. Daniel Sturridge is Daniel Sturridge. We know him well, and he’s in the mix with everybody else.”

Hodgson wanted to use England’s last two games as a means of whittling down his squad, and other than Fabian Delph, who now looks certain to miss out because of injury, and Sturridge, every other member of the squad had at least some involvement.

Andros Townsend, who came on for the last 14 minutes of last night’s game, and Danny Drinkwater, who was involved in both matches, would appear to be at most risk, but Hodgson admits he is still to settle on his final selection.

“The balance of the squad, who we take, which players in which position and how we are going to cover certain eventualities has been a constant topic of conversation,” he said. “That was the case even before we picked 26 players in the first place.

“Nothing has changed there, and there will be two or three sleepless nights turning things over in my head before the final decision is made.”

Last night’s game was the first England match to be staged at the Stadium of Light since a 2-0 win over Turkey in 2003, and Hodgson was delighted with the reception his side received.

“It was terrific,” he said. “We’re very happy. It wasn’t just the atmosphere at the stadium, but also all around. You could feel it into the city, and also when we were coming here today.

“It was a tremendous feeling of welcome, excitement and enthusiasm. The FA accepted the invitation to take games away from Wembley, and give people in other areas of the country the chance to show their support. We know the support is there, we feel that, but it was nice to have tangible proof of that.”