Will Marcus Rashford Do A Michael Owen Or Theo Walcott?

So, it turns out that there was actually plenty of room in England’s squad for not just Daniel Sturridge and Marcus Rashford, but for Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane, and Wayne Rooney, too.

Roy Hodgson’s squad is undeniably filled with attacking talent, especially when you take into account that Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley, and Adam Lallana are vying for midfield berths behind the above quintet.

But with so many players and so few spaces, what can we really expect of Marcus Rashford at Euros 2016? Unfortunately not a lot.

While every Manchester United fan across the world will be smirking with pride at the 18-year-old’s inclusion in the squad, Rashford’s participation is more likely to be akin to 17-year-old Theo Walcott’s periphery involvement at the 2006 World Cup in Germany than 18-year-old Michael Owen’s triumphant unveiling in France eight-years earlier.

While Owen was able to usurp 32-year-old Teddy Sheringham and 31-year-old Les Ferdinand to establish himself as the next bright English talent after goals against Romania and a certain stunner against Argentina, Walcott’s bizarre addition was compounded when he played the grand sum of zero minutes as England were ultimately knocked out in the quarter finals against Portugal.

Walcott’s lack of game time was understandable when you consider that Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, and Peter Crouch were all in fantastic form for either club or country or both before the tournament began.

But Rashford’s task to get playing time at the 2016 Euros is even more daunting. Rooney is now England’s record goal scorer and captain, and, despite many protestations to the contrary, is still England’s talisman having scored 12 goals in 13 starts since the end of the 2014 World Cup. Rooney is still likely to start up front for England at the tournament, however Hodgson’s decision to bring five strikers suggests that he’s already considering moving him deeper.

Meanwhile, over the course of the last two seasons Harry Kane has established himself as one of the most deadly strikers in Europe. After his stunning exploits in Leicester City’s equally as stunning Premier league triumph, Jamie Vardy will be pushing strongly for a starting role, too. But if not his pace, grit, determination and enthusiasm will make him the perfect super sub.

If England are struggling for options then they also have Daniel Sturridge to consider, too. Despite his horrifying injury issues over the last 2 seasons, Sturridge’s goal against Sevilla in the Europa League proved that he’s one of the best improvisational finishers around, and that his self-confidence is so fervent that he can come into any match and make an impact.

Rashford has yet to showcase the same prowess when coming off the bench during his startling rise to prominence since February. Mainly because he has only ever started matches or been an unused substitute and is yet to emerge from the sidelines to effect a game.

It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that the mercurial Manc has that ability in his locker, too. But with an elite English strike-force ahead of him it’s unlikely that he’ll get a chance to showcase it in France.

[Image via WikiCommons]