There is always a surprise inclusion in an England squad for a major tournament, and there looks set to be a couple in this year’s squad for Euro 2016 in France.
Roy Hodgson is blessed with an array of young talent at the minute and he now faces a decision on whether to go for the tried and tested, and failed at major tournaments, or invest in the youth that will go out and play no-fear football against the fellow heavyweights of European football.
Big things are expected again of England and the form of some of the young English players this season has been phenomenal, and that gives Hodgson a very welcome selection headache as he has players currently playing at the top of their game, as well as the experienced heads who will also no doubt be part of the set-up.
Here are FIVE players that nobody would have expected to see lining up for England a few months ago and that may be shock inclusions this summer……..
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE 5 PLAYERS!
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Danny Drinkwater
Drinkwater has been one of several success stories in the current Leicester line-up.
The 26-year-old midfielder has come from nowhere in terms of the international scene.
He is still uncapped for the senior team but made appearances for the U18 and U19 sides.
His form this season has been consistently good and many people are now talking about him forcing his way into the squad; manager Roy Hodgson has been watching him of late.
He came through the Manchester United youth ranks but after loan spells at the likes of Huddersfield, Cardiff and Barnsley, he was released from Old Trafford in 2012 after failing to make a senior league appearance.
But having now found his feet at the King Power Stadium he appears to have a great shot at the Euros this summer.
Jamie Vardy
Vardy is somebody that Hodgson cannot ignore and he is now almost a certainty for the Euros.
But this time last year, hardly anybody would have expected him to get anywhere near the senior squad.
After just five Premier League goals last season, in 34 appearances, he has come to life this season finding the net 19 times so far, including breaking the Premier League record for scoring in successive games.
Playing in non-league only four years ago, his story is a reminder to everyone that hard work really can pay off and Vardy fully deserves his shot at major international football.
Simon Francis
Simon Francis is not a name that anybody would put in the same sentence as the England football team.
Somewhat of a journey man throughout his career, Bournemouth are his seventh club, he has now established himself as an accomplished centre-half/full-back.
After plying his trade mainly around the bottom end of the Championship and in League One, he has come to life since joining Bournemouth in 2011.
He was part of their remarkable rise to the top-flight and he has played a big part in their debut Premier League campaign, featuring in all 29 of their games so far and he could be a late shock inclusion if he can maintain his current solid form at the heart of the Cherries’ defence.
Jesse Lingard
Lingard has really come to life at Manchester United in the last few months.
He came through the United youth ranks but mainly found himself out on loan, at the likes of Leicester, Birmingham, Brighton and Derby.
He made his senior Old Trafford debut in the opening day of the 2014-15 season, but after being injured early in that game, he had a loan spell at Championship side Derby.
Lingard has returned to the United first team this season and has impressed when he has, scoring four times in his 14 Premier League appearances so far.
He was called up to the senior team for the first time for the friendly against France in November last year.
Eric Dier
Eric Dier is another young talented English player that has risen to the top in recent months.
The 22-year-old actually played most of his youth football in Portugal with Sporting CP, rising through to their first team before joining Spurs in 2014.
He has been a key part of the side’s title challenge this season, as well as the club’s run in Europe, and he is another one that seems to be a given for the Euros.
