Roy’s Super Sunday: Which in-form England strikers will Hodgson take to the Euros?

Updated 15/02/2016 at 11:54 GMT

In-depth: In three Premier League games on Sunday, English strikers contributed five goals. England manager Roy Hodgson has arguably never had such options to choose from – so which forwards are currently leading the race for a Euro 2016 ticket? Alex Dimond takes a look.

Roy Hodgson at Manchester City v Tottenham

Image credit: Reuters

England coach Roy Hodgson must have been rubbing his hands together in glee. Less than four months until the Three Lions kick off their European Championship campaign against Russia in Marseille, Hodgson watched on Sunday as five of his possible forward options for that tournament got on the scoresheet in high-profile Premier League games.

The news currently is almost universally positive for Hodgson. Two English forwards – Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy – top the Premier League goalscoring charts at this stage of the season, while even the veteran Wayne Rooney has rediscovered a goalscoring touch.

Danny Welbeck is back fit (and already scoring), while less-heralded names like Watford’s Troy Deeney are also forcing their way into the conversation.

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"We have a lot of possibilities in terms of formation,” Hodgson said. “We can play in a diamond, or with one centre forward, and the big thing is Kane and Vardy who have both been such a sensation.”

He added: “We are pleased Wayne has pulled himself out of that trough. He’s an important player, our captain, and a player we need to depend upon.”

Fitness permitting Rooney is a certainty to go to the Euros, then, but how do the rest of Hodgson’s options line up at the moment?

THE DYNAMIC: How many strikers will actually go to France?

As a reminder, Hodgson can take 23 players to the tournament this summer, three of which must be goalkeepers. That essentially leaves two players for every outfield position, although some players' versatility will mean they can cover a couple of the spots on the pitch.

How many forwards Hodgson will take to the Euros depends somewhat on which formation he wants to play, therefore. Two years ago at the World Cup the former Liverpool and Fulham boss moved between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations, and was more than willing to play the likes of Danny Welbeck from wider positions.

England's Daniel Sturridge celebrates his goal against Italy during their World Cup Group D match at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus (Reuters)

Image credit: Reuters

More recently, however, he has moved things around to try and find a better midfield dynamic, which has occasionally seen England play with just one out-and-out striker, or two in a more conventional 4-4-2 setup. What is more, a number of England players often classed as midfielders are more than capable of playing further forward - the likes of Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - which limits the need for many conventional forwards.

Hodgson took four recognised forwards to Brazil in 2014: Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert. Unless he is really adventurous, he is unlikely to take more this time.

SUNDAY’S STARS

In the order they scored on the Sunday, then, here are the English goalscorers and their international standing at the moment.

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Jamie Vardy

Apps (goals) this season: 28 (19)

England apps (goals): 4 (0)

Jamie Vardy celebrates with team mates after scoring the first goal for Leicester from the penalty spot against Arsenal

Image credit: Reuters

An emphatic penalty at Arsenal extended Vardy’s lead among Premier League goalscorers, although Leicester eventually succumbed to a defeat that may yet prove the turning point in their unlikely title bid. The former non-league journeyman has looked unplayable at times this year, his pace and unerring eye for goal embarrassing some top defences. On that alone he should be a shoo-in for England, but his involvement so far at international level has been uninspiring – although Hodgson has mostly forced him into a wide role that he clearly does not enjoy.

At the moment Hodgson almost can’t not pick him, but you wonder if he has a real idea where Vardy would actually fit in the starting XI. He seems loath to give him the central role he does so well for Leicester, but if Vardy keeps up his current form his coach might be forced to give him that chance.

Current status: On the plane but, perhaps behind Kane and Rooney for a central role and looking uncomfortable out wide, probably not in the starting XI at the moment.

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Theo Walcott

Apps (goals) this season: 28 (6)

England apps (goals): 42 (8)

Theo Walcott (Arsenal) equalises against Leicester

Image credit: AFP

Famously unlucky with form and injuries, Walcott has only gone to two major international tournaments, one of them as an unused 17-year-old. But things look brighter right now, and Walcott came off the bench to help turn the game for Arsenal on Sunday.

Perhaps more of a wide option than central striker consideration for Hodgson, Walcott has often blown hot and cold for England – and questions remain about his tactical discipline and decision-making in the final third. Definitely in the running, but you wonder if he needs a consistent run of goals and form to cement his candidacy … and whether he will be afforded the playing time required at Arsenal.

Current status: Perhaps on the fringes of the running at the moment, in the squad but not a starter, Hodgson will certainly be watching the player’s performances with interest. As things stand, however, he could be set for more major tournament disappointment - especially if other players prove their form and fitness.

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Danny Welbeck

Apps (goals) this season: 1 (1)

England apps (goals): 33 (14)

Danny Welbeck celebrates scoring the second goal for Arsenal

Image credit: Reuters

The forgotten guy until he returned to being “dat guy” once again on Sunday, Welbeck marked his first appearance of an injury-ravaged season with a last-minute winner that may yet come to define the Premier League title race. Now the challenge is to avoid any further injury setbacks as he becomes more involved in the Gunners’ run-in. The fact Wenger threw him into Sunday's game ahead of schedule, having been impressed with his sharpness in training, bodes well for Welbeck - although nothing is guaranteed.

The ex-Manchester United man’s England situation is more difficult to process. For a long-time he was one of Hodgson’s most dependable players – making a left-sided attacking role his own through a willingness to do the dirty work and a habit of producing goals. It will be interesting to see how much injury (and the form of others) has hurt him in Hodgson’s eyes, but if he can remain fit he will surely get a chance to assert his Euros credentials.

Current status: Probably out of the 23 as things stand, Welbeck remains a Hodgson favourite and will surely be given every chance to play his way onto the plane (or train) to France.

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Daniel Sturridge

Apps (goals) this season: 8 (5)

England apps (goals): 16 (5)

Daniel Sturridge celebrates scoring the first goal for Liverpool with team mates

Image credit: Reuters

Back to the starting line-up on Sunday after a long injury lay-off, Sturridge took just 16 minutes to get back on the scoresheet for his club. That will delight Hodgson, but the coach will understandably want to see the striker repeat that on a consistent basis for the rest of the season before making any squad selection decisions.

Prior to his injuries Sturridge was undoubtedly the No. 1 option for the national team, but his issues and the ascendant form of others has dropped him down the pecking order. He has work to do to guarantee his Euros spot, and so needs to ensure he is a regular starter (and scorer) for Liverpool if he is to re-assume an England No. 9 shirt that looked like being his for years barely 18 months ago.

Current status: Probably outside the running at the moment, but equally put himself back into the 23 if he can stay fit and firing for the rest of the season.

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Harry Kane

Apps (goals) this season: 31 (19)

England apps (goals): 8 (3)

Tottenham's Harry Kane celebrates his goal against Manchester City

Image credit: Eurosport

Like Vardy, a penalty saw Kane add to his impressive tally for the season – as he helped Spurs to an invaluable victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Tottenham striker has been one of the revelations of English football since the last World Cup and, unlike Vardy, has made the step up to international football look seamless – scoring three goals already despite making most of his appearances from the bench.

The 22-year-old has shown he can lead the line in a side contending for the Championship, and has proven that last season’s heroics were no one-hit wonder. If he can stay fit and continues to fire through to the end of the season then he surely figures to be a starting option for Hodgson – although fatigue remains a concern.

Current status: In the 23 and possibly in the starting XI as well, depending on where Hodgson decides to fit Rooney into the side. But needs to keep scoring for Spurs to maintain that status with so many others pushing hard.

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Other recent scorers: Rooney, Defoe, Deeney

Wayne Rooney: England’s captain and the man Hodgson has firmly hitched his wagon to. Some would argue that such faith is undeserved, and perhaps Rooney does not even merit a first-team berth on recent form. But Hodgson is not for turning and Rooney will be the centrepiece of England’s Euros assault – for better or worse - in what might be his final major championship.

Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring the third goal for Manchester United

Image credit: Reuters

Jermain Defoe: Currently the Premier League’s eighth top scorer with 10 goals, Defoe is the highest scorer for a club in the relegation zone. The perception is that, at 33, the striker is past it – but the stats do not really back that up. A one-dimensional player, perhaps, Defoe surely deserves consideration as a 'fox in the box' option to be used from the bench … but Hodgson, who has seemed to turn his back on Defoe ever since he went to the MLS in 2014, is unlikely to do so.

Jermain Defoe scores Sunderland's equaliser against Liverpool

Image credit: Reuters

Troy Deeney: Eight goals in his first Premier League season means Deeney is currently the joint fourth-highest scoring English player. Perhaps the most like-for-like back-up option to Rooney (he can play as a striker or a No. 10), Deeney surely warrants a look in one of England’s forthcoming friendlies.

But he will arguably need to step up his scoring even more to give Hodgson a real selection dilemma, with the likes of Ross Barkley (who has scored as many goals as Deeney) and Dele Alli (who has only one fewer) meaning No. 10 options are not exactly limited.

Troy Deeney celebrates after scoring the second goal for Watford

Image credit: Reuters

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The best of the rest: Saido Berahino, Charlie Austin, Andy Carroll, Callum Wilson, Benik Afobe

Berahino has been in and around the squad since the World Cup, but his current status at West Brom surely means he will not make the Euros. Austin has had a call-up before, but the form of Kane and Vardy means he will need to wait (and start scoring regularly for Southampton) to get a real shot.

Carroll would give England something different, and has been effective for Hodgson in the past, but the famously controversy-shy coach will perhaps be wary of the criticism he would receive if he picked the target man over someone like Vardy. Bournemouth duo Wilson and Afobe surely lack both the fitness (Wilson) and profile (Afobe) to get into the fray.

Of course, all of those names become consideration if injuries start to strike - it is probably too much to ask that all the aforementioned players stay fit through to this summer.