Another tournament, another chance for England to finally win their second major championship.
“Is this our time, our chance to get hands on a major trophy?” It is the same question that all England fans ask whenever an international tournament comes around.
For the 2016 European Championships, held in France from June 10th to July 10th, the Three Lions have no excuses. Compared to some of the other major squads, England have a small injury list, but with a couple of big name players out, will be hoping their versatility will help them fill any positions potentially weakened.
There are also concerns over a few names who are fighting against time to prove their fitness to Roy Hodgson, before the final squad of 23 is selected.
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Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, alongside Stoke City’s Jack Butland, have all suffered long term injuries that will see them ruled out of the final England squad for Euro 16.
There are numerous other players who have had troubles throughout their club seasons that see them as touch and go for the tournament. Included in this list are Theo Walcott, Danny Ings, Fabian Delph, Phil Jagielka and Daniel Sturridge.
Sturridge has reportedly failed to complete a full training session with the national side, and with his history of injuries while at Liverpool, he remains an uncertainty for the tournament. He will be one to keep a close eye on, and it will be interesting to see what Roy decides to do with one of his key forwards.
Fortunately for Hodgson, two of his key midfielders in Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson have recovered from injuries in time to prove they are fit for the tournament, as both of them started against Australia in an international friendly last Saturday morning (AEDT).
England has plenty of depth up front, with Jamie Vardy, Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling all battling to prove they are worthy of a spot in the starting XI.
Welbeck will be missed the most out of the current injury list, as he has scored six goals in just five games for the national side and provides that clinical striker role that England has missed in the past.
However, with the form of Vardy and Kane alongside some other dangerous attackers, the side should be comfortable with their goalscoring options.
Roy will be happy to have Henderson back just in time, as he provides a solid defensive structure in the midfield, while having the ability to create dangerous passes into the final-third.
Wilshere is another big plus for England, with the creative-midfielder providing Roy with another option to attack from the centre or to bring him on as an impact substitute.
That is exactly where fellow Gunner Oxlade-Chamberlain will be missed. He is capable of providing a crucial final pass into the box, along with his skill and pace can change a game in the late stages of a match. A potential match winner that could be missed by England, but they will be hoping they have other players who can step up to fill his role.
Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland had been in the best form of his career before he fractured his ankle in a friendly against Germany in Berlin two months ago. Some pundits had even predicted that he might replace starting keeper Joe Hart, but it was not to be. Butland needs to remain upbeat and positive as he is only 23, and has plenty of time ahead of him with the national squad if he can return to form when he gets back between the sticks.
Another Arsenal player who has struggled with injuries this season, and in the past, is Walcott. The Gunners playmaker sustained a hamstring injury before the last game of the season against Aston Villa, and it seems as if he has failed to recover in time to battle for a spot in the squad.
Ings, Delph and Jagielka have all battled reoccurring injury issues this season, and unfortunately for them, it would be a massive shock if Roy Hodgson was to include them in his final squad of 23.
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