Daniel Sturridge looks to have handed England manager Roy Hodgson a Euro 2016 selection dilemma after returning to training on the eve of his second squad announcement. The Liverpool striker was included in the provisional 26-man party named following the concluding round of Premier League fixtures on 16 May, but he later appeared in possible danger of not making the final 23 due to a calf problem.
Such an issue led to injury-plagued Sturridge missing practice sessions last week and he was also absent for the 2-1 warm-up victory over Australia on Friday (27 May), a match which saw Manchester United academy graduate Marcus Rashford significantly enhance his own claims by scoring just three minutes into his senior international debut at the Stadium of Light. The confident 18-year-old, who notched eight times in his first 18 senior club appearances after bursting onto the scene with consecutive braces in late February, became the youngest player to net on his maiden England outing since Tommy Lawton 78 years ago.
While Sturridge has returned to training as expected, Ryan Bertrand did not take part at Watfords training ground in Hertfordshire in order to receive treatment. The Southampton defender is competing with Tottenham Hotspur counterpart Danny Rose for that starting left-back role and featured for the full 90 minutes on Wearside before subsequently requiring attention on an unspecified knock.
Chelseas Gary Cahill was involved after missing the Australia game due to a hip injury that needed an injection. Centre-back partner Chris Smalling has also shaken off a bout of cramp that saw him replaced by Eric Dier with 17 minutes remaining.
Hodgson has until midnight on Tuesday (31 May) to confirm his final squad as per the official Uefa deadline. He is expected to make the announcement on Tuesday afternoon, with England facing fellow finalists Portugal in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before travelling to their tournament base at the Stade des Bourgognes four days later. They will stay at the Auberge du Jeu de Paume Hotel in Chantilly, north of Paris. The Three Lions begin their Group B campaign against Russia at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday 11 June before meeting Wales in Lens and Slovakia in Saint-Etienne.
Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph is set to miss out on selection due to a groin muscle strain, but will remain on the standby list. Presuming Sturridge is sufficiently fit to travel and there are no further late injury scares, then two of Rashford, Danny Drinkwater or Andros Townsend will likely be cut. If Hodgson includes Rashford and elects to take five strikers, then Everton playmaker Ross Barkley may also prove vulnerable.