Daily Times

LONDON: Manchester United’s teenage striker Marcus Rashford was included in England’s final 23-man Euro 2016 squad, which was announced on Tuesday, as Danny Drinkwater and Andros Townsend dropped out.

Rashford, 18, scored within three minutes of his England debut in Friday’s 2-1 win over Australia, having netted eight times in 18 games since making his Man United debut in February.

His emergence was thought to have cast doubt on Daniel Sturridge’s place, but the Liverpool player was named as one of five strikers despite missing the Australia game with a calf problem.

Originally named in manager Roy Hodgson’s provisional 26-man squad, Leicester City midfielder Drinkwater and Newcastle United winger Townsend made way.

Fabian Delph, the Manchester City midfielder, had previously dropped out of the squad due to a groin problem.

Rashford’s inclusion continues his astonishing rise to prominence and comes a day after he committed his future to United by signing a four-year contract with an option for an extra year.

He only made his United debut, in a Europa League game against Danish side FC Midtjylland, due to injuries to Anthony Martial and Will Keane, but since scoring twice in a 5-1 win, he has not looked back.

He will now look to follow the examples of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, who were both teenagers when they announced themselves at major tournaments – the former at the 1998 World Cup, the latter at Euro 2004.