Jermaine Jenas exclusive: Don't get left back Roy - Rose deserves a starting place at Euro 2016

With less than three months to go until England's Euro 2016 opener against Russia, Roy Hodgson will have a good idea about which 23 players he will be taking to France, but I think the one area he will be mulling over most is left-back.

Personally, I think it's time we went to a major championships and - for once - picked a squad based first and foremost on form, rather than just sticking with the players who are tried and tested. Although you have to show respect to the team members that got England to the finals in the first place, picking players who haven't had a good season can add a bit more pressure to the situation.

Looking at England's defensive personnel, I think Roy will only take one right-back to France because he'll have other players that can provide cover, such as John Stones, Eric Dier or even Phil Jagielka. It's probably a straight choice between Nathaniel Clyne and Kyle Walker for that right-back spot, and I expect Hodgson to opt for Clyne

It's a different situation at left-back because there is no natural cover elsewhere in the squad, which means there are two places up for grabs. Luke Shaw is Hodgson's first choice, but he is injured, and I don't think anyone else has nailed down a spot. That makes it a great opportunity for the wealth of gifted players we have in that position.

I think it is a battle between five players: Leighton Baines, Kieran Gibbs, Danny Rose, Aaron Cresswell and, as an outsider, Charlie Daniels. It won't be an easy choice for Hodgson, because they all come with their advantages and drawbacks.

Leighton Baines

The Everton full-back has proved his undoubted quality for club and country over the years, and is our most experienced left-back with 30 caps, but he has had large periods out this season after getting injured early in the campaign. Even since he's been back, he has been chopped and changed with Bryan Oviedo in Roberto Martinez's defence. If you're looking at it purely on form, from the five players I've mentioned Baines would probably come last.

Kieran Gibbs

After falling behind Nacho Monreal in the pecking order at Arsenal, Gibbs has been linked with a possible move away from the Emirates. There are a few players at Arsenal in a similar position, such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and even Theo Walcott. These are players who are good enough to hold down a starting place in most Premier League teams, but when you're at a top club like Arsenal it's a brave decision to leave.

Whenever Kieran has been called upon by Arsene Wenger he has done well, and one of the advantages for England is that he's used to being thrown in at the deep end in a big game and not being phased. In that sense he nails it as a second-choice player. As well as being defensively solid, Gibbs is also good enough going forward to play on the left wing - for instance in the kind of situation during a game where you're trying to protect a narrow lead.

Danny Rose

He's strong, quick, athletic, improving all the time and he's probably the best defender in the group. For me, the Tottenham man has been the best and most consistent English left-back in the league this season. He has been in England squads before without getting a cap, so Hodgson has had a look at him, but I feel that until now Roy has remained unconvinced. Sometimes a manager will feel a player doesn't tick all the boxes he wants ticked, and Roy has only really selected Rose when other players have been injured. But there is no way he can't be considering the Spurs man now.

Aaron Cresswell

Attacking wise, the West Ham full-back is probably the pick of the bunch. The way he gets up and down the pitch and the quality of his delivery is excellent. His work has gone almost unnoticed due to the form of other players in the team, such as Dimitri Payet, but I think he's one of the Hammers' most important players. He had a good season last year, but I think he has kicked on again this year - especially in recent weeks. He also has a phenomenal fitness record, having missed just one game in two seasons for the Hammers, so he can be relied upon to stay fit.

Charlie Daniels

It's a longshot, but the Bournemouth man has had an outstanding season. I know Charlie from when he came through the youth team ranks at Tottenham when I was there. He was a left-winger at that time, but some players turn out to be better running from deep - and Charlie is one of those. Because he's so big, he's not as explosive as you need to be as an out-and-out winger, but once he gets going he's hard to stop.

This season, he has shown quality both on the ball and in his defending, plus he can take a penalty. I watched him this weekend up against Swansea's Modou Barrow, who is exceptionally quick, and although Daniels had a tough game he stood strong. Hodgson is not a manager who likes to make drastic changes, and that is likely to count against Charlie, but he deserves to have his name in the hat.

On form, I'd put Rose top of that list, followed by Cresswell, Daniels, Gibbs and Baines. Picking a team isn't as simple as that though, and Hodgson will definitely take one player to France who has genuine international experience - which means either Baines and Gibbs.

It will be nice to see one or two of those uncapped players get a chance in the friendlies coming up against Germany and Holland, because Roy already knows what the others can do, but if I'm being honest I don't see him doing that.

If it was down to me though I'd pick Rose and Gibbs to go to France - with the Tottenham player first choice. It's probably unlikely to happen, because Rose hasn't got a cap and Gibbs has not played much this season, but I believe this is the pairing that covers all bases. Based on his form this season, Rose deserves to be on that plane.