ANDROS TOWNSEND claims he has hit form at the perfect time after his late-season surge with Newcastle United earned him a place in Roy Hodgson’s provisional England squad for this summer’s European Championships.

Townsend was named in Hodgson’s initial 26-man party yesterday, with the England boss having to submit his final 23-man squad to UEFA by May 31. However, there was no place for Jermain Defoe, despite the Sunderland striker ending the season with 18 goals in all competitions.

Defoe was edged out by Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford, who joins Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge in the attacking ranks. Provided all five forwards remain fit, however, it is anticipated that Rashford will be one of the players to make way after this month’s friendlies with Turkey and Australia.

Townsend’s call-up became much more likely when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was ruled out through injury, and the Newcastle winger has won a head-to-head battle with Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, who will not be involved at the Euros.

Hodgson’s willingness to select Townsend is a reflection of his faith in the midfielder, who has scored three goals in his ten international appearances, and an acknowledgment of the 24-year-old’s consistently impressive displays since completing a £12m move from Tottenham to Newcastle in January.

“Roy knows what I can offer,” said Townsend, whose performances against Montenegro and Poland were a major factor in England’s successful qualification for the 2014 World Cup. “I am fresh because I have only played 13 games this season.

“I’m gutted the club season has ended because I’m just getting into my stride. The confidence is back, and that is showing on the pitch. I am devastated the season is over, but it is great that the call from England has come.

“Anyone who has watched me for Newcastle saw it took me three or four games to get going, then in the last five weeks, I have been close to my best form.

“I’m getting back to my best and I’m gutted we have to take a break for the club, but for my country, I have plenty to give. Against Spurs on Sunday, you’d have seen I was fresh and just love running around. I’m in great shape, and I can help England and the England manager if he wants to use me in France.”

Having helped England qualify for the last World Cup in Brazil, Townsend suffered the heartbreak of missing out on the tournament when he damaged his ankle ligaments in the final three weeks of the season.

He would almost certainly have been selected had he not been unavailable because of injury, and Hodgson continued to include him in his squads even when he was out of favour and banished to the reserves with Spurs.

His most recent international appearance came as a second-half substitute in last October’s qualifying win in Lithuania, and while his selection for this summer’s finals was cast into doubt as Newcastle battled unsuccessfully against relegation, his previous appearances in an England shirt have clearly carried a fair amount of weight in Hodgson’s thinking.

“It would be incredible to go (to France),” said Townsend. “I missed out on the last World Cup because of injury, and obviously I was down in the dumps because it would have been a dream to go to Brazil.

“It was an awful feeling to miss out, and it would make the Euros even more special. As a player, you want to be in the tournaments.

“I am desperate to do well for my country as well as my club, and I feel like on a personal level I am only just warming up now the club season is over. I am ready to go.”

Whether Townsend spends next season with Newcastle remains to be seen, and the winger refused to discuss his future in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s 5-1 win over Tottenham.

Southampton and West Ham have both been linked with a possible move for the winger, who is unlikely to be short of suitors even though he is understood to be earning around £55,000-a-week on Tyneside.

Retaining Townsend would be a major statement of Newcastle’s continued ambition despite their relegation, but a final decision on potential incomings and outgoings will not be made until Rafael Benitez’s future is resolved.

Benitez met Mike Ashley for the first time on Sunday evening, and the pair spent around two hours discussing the fall-out from relegation and the implications for this summer’s restructuring.

Sources close to Benitez claim the Spaniard was “really pleased” with the talks, and he met managing director Lee Charnley yesterday to discuss the finer details of what he would be allowed to do if he opted to remain in his current role.

“It would be massive for Newcastle to keep Rafa as manager,” said Townsend. “He is one of the best managers in the world. If we can keep a manager of that calibre and keep doing the right things, we will build.

“We will not cut corners, and we’ll build for the future and come straight back into the Premier League. Not just in the top-flight, but up there challenging because that is what the manager wants to do.”