Scott Wilson Column: Who will make Roy Hodgson's England squad for Euro 2016?

Hodgson will name a 23-man squad for the finals, and while around half of the players involved in this week’s games against Germany and Holland can be reasonably confident about their place at Euro 2016, others still have plenty to play for.

GOALKEEPERS

Historically a source of weakness, England’s goalkeeping options are currently as strong as they have been for years. For once, even a last-minute injury concern should not be too catastrophic.

Joe Hart is the firmly-established number one, and for all that he has had the occasional wobble this season, the Manchester City keeper still commands a place in the world’s top ten.

He is unavailable this week because of a calf injury, but while Hodgson might have valued the 28-year-old’s experience against the reigning world champions, his absence could work in England’s favour.

Jack Butland will come in to win his fourth senior cap, and on the evidence of his performances for Stoke, there is very little to choose between the 23-year-old and Hart.

Butland is now a clear choice as number two, and the experience of playing against Germany and Holland should help him if he is called into action at any stage this summer.

It is not just the top two that are strong either, with Southampton’s Fraser Forster providing some real depth in his position as third-choice shot-stopper. The former Newcastle man will surely get the nod ahead of Burnley’s Tom Heaton, who has been drafted into this week’s squad, and West Brom’s Ben Foster.

DEFENDERS

This is where it starts to get more difficult for Hodgson. England’s defensive frailties were their undoing at the World Cup in Brazil, and it is hard to discern much improvement in the subsequent two years.

Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill were Hodgson’s preferred centre-halves during the flawless qualifying campaign, but the latter has been in poor form and has spent most of the season trying to force his way back into the Chelsea team. Hodgson likes him, but it is hard to make a convincing case for his inclusion in the starting XI.

Will that mean a starting spot for John Stones? The Everton defender is seen as the rising force in terms of English centre-halves, and most observers expected this to be the season where he really established himself. Instead, he has been part of an Everton defence that has struggled repeatedly, and Roberto Martinez has even been reluctant to select him in recent weeks.

He still looks a better bet than his team-mate, Phil Jagielka, whose best international days are surely behind him, and beyond that, the cupboard looks bare. Phil Jones’ star has waned dramatically, and Scott Dann’s early-season form at Crystal Palace has tailed off dramatically.

Things are no better in the full-back berths, with England having problems on either flank. The left-back issue is the most acute, with Hodgson’s desperation to see Luke Shaw return from a lengthy injury lay-off underlining the lack of viable alternatives. As things stand, Shaw is unlikely to make it.

Ryan Bertrand and the uncapped Danny Rose are the left-back options in the current squad, although the more experienced Leighton Baines and Kieran Gibbs will also be considered before Hodgson makes his cut.

On the opposite flank, Kyle Walker and Nathaniel Clyne are set to get the nod for France, although neither would come close to the ‘world-class’ bracket.

MIDFIELDERS

Hodgson’s biggest dilemmas will come in midfield, and his final selection will provide a strong indication of just how bold he wants to be. Will he stick with the tried-and-tested players who have failed at a succession of major finals or take a gamble on some of the young guns who have done so much to illuminate the Premier League season?

Identifying a holding midfielder has been a key problem for a number of Hodgson’s predecessors, but the emergence of Spurs’ Eric Dier means a solution to what had looked an intractable issue might just have fallen into his lap.

Dier has only won two caps to date, but surely boasts superior claims to Michael Carrick, who must have run out of chances by now, and Jordan Henderson, who has stalled at Liverpool.

James Milner’s versatility could see him retain a place as the one ‘all-rounder’ who always seems to figure in a tournament party, while Hodgson’s decision to select Danny Drinkwater for this week’s double-header suggests the Leicester midfielder has a realistic chance of making it to France. If he proves capable of translating his club form to the international stage, he should go.

Time has surely run out for Jack Wilshere, who played well in a couple of qualifiers but whose dreadful injury record means he would liable to break down at any time.

In a more attacking midfield capacity, Dele Alli and Ross Barkley are all but certainties to be involved, and it will be interesting to see if Hodgson can find a way of getting both players into his first-choice side.

Raheem Sterling faces a race to prove his fitness after suffering a groin injury last weekend, but provided he makes it back before the end of the season, a spot will be left open for him.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has flattered to deceive for most of the season with Arsenal, but boasts some useful previous performances at international level, while Adam Lallana appears to be rediscovering his form at Anfield.

Newcastle duo Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend look to have missed the boat, along with Fabian Delph, whose move to Manchester City has not turned out as he would have hoped. If there is to be a wildcard selection, it could be Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard, who has previously been a stalwart of the Under-21s.

FORWARDS

Hodgson has suggested he is likely to take five forwards to France, and despite the debate that has raged throughout the season, one of those players will be Wayne Rooney.

The England skipper is on track to return from a knee injury shortly after the international break, which should give him sufficient time to build up his fitness before the end of the season.

Hodgson values Rooney’s leadership as well as his goalscoring qualities, and it should not be forgotten that the striker has scored ten goals in his last 14 international appearances. Whether he merits a place in the starting side is a different matter, but he should certainly be in the squad.

His place has become less secure thanks to the progress of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, and the pair will head to France with strong hopes of leading the line.

This week’s games give Hodgson an opportunity to pair them together, or, as is more likely, to play Kane as the central striker with Vardy cutting in from one of the flanks. If they gel, fitting Rooney into the system as well will be a problem.

The identity of Hodgson’s other two attackers is less clear-cut. Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge have been absent for most of the season, but have returned to produce some eye-catching displays in recent weeks. The former was one of England’s most important players in qualifying, while the latter has previously been a Hodgson favourite.

Theo Walcott will be nervous of missing the cut after an inconsistent season with Arsenal, while Andy Carroll’s status as ‘Plan B’ has slipped after a succession of injuries. There will be no recall for Jermain Defoe, and while Marcus Rashford has been making headlines at Old Trafford, this summer’s tournament will come too early for him.

Scott Wilson’s Euro 2016 squad:

Jack Butland, Fraser Forster, Joe Hart; Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Nathaniel Clyne, Danny Rose, Chris Smalling, John Stones, Kyle Walker; Dele Alli, Ross Barkley, Eric Dier, Danny Drinkwater, Adam Lallana, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling; Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy, Danny Welbeck.