Hodgson: I’m watching Rashford

Speaking at a Uefa coaches’ workshop just a few metres from the Eiffel Tower, however, the 68-year-old made it plain that he will reserve a spot in his squad for both as long as he deems them fit enough to warrant inclusion, irrespective of their form or how many games they have managed to play for their club sides.

Although he stopped short of guaranteeing Rooney a place in his starting XI, he insisted that he will not be dissuaded from including him by the forward’s injury — suffered against Sunderland on February 13 — or the stuttering displays that preceded it. “Form is transient,” Hodgson said. “His qualities, his leadership, the fact he is captain of England: that is not transient. That is a given.

“He has got to come back before the end of the season, there is no doubt about that. There is no way I should be looking to dismiss a Wayne Rooney who is fit and playing football on the basis that he is out of form. He is our captain and a captain is important. What he has got to do is get fit so I can pick him, and then show enough form when he is with us to demand a place in the team. Wayne Rooney is someone I am really counting on going to the Euros.”

With Rooney sidelined, Rashford has seized his chance in spectacular fashion, scoring twice on his debut against Midtjylland last week and twice more on his Barclays Premier League debut against Arsenal on Sunday.

Hodgson has been aware of the striker for two years and he is proud of the risks he has taken in blooding young players during his time in charge of the national team, meaning that he is not prepared to dismiss the idea of selecting the teenager.

“I would not rule him in or rule him out,” said Hodgson. “I have been watching him for two years. We are delighted a player that is in our under-18 team, who we think has got a bright future, is getting chances in the first team. Scoring four goals in three games is a great achievement and if he can keep that up, it is great for Manchester United and England.”

Hodgson was adamant on the subject of Wilshere, who is not expected to return for Arsenal until April at the earliest. Arsène Wenger suggested on Tuesday that the 24-year-old was due to start running again this week and would be back in contention for a first-team place in three to four weeks.

Hodgson, though, does not believe that the midfielder would necessarily need to prove his fitness to earn a place in the squad, drawing a rather unlikely parallel with Dave Mackay, the Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland hardman, who recovered from two broken legs.

The England manager is determined to remain as loyal as possible to those players who played significant roles in qualifying, giving Wilshere a considerable advantage over those colleagues who have played more frequently over the past year. “Whether a player has played 30, 40, 10, 15 or 8 games, I don’t understand that,” Hodgson said. “Players are either fit to play or not.

“Mackay came back from two broken legs. The first one he came back almost immediately after it had healed, played a game, and then he broke it again, and played again as soon as that one had healed. I don’t know why we should be quite as protective as all that.

“For me, it is all about the class of the player. Form is transient. We need classy players we can trust, players who we know what they will give us.”

Rashford, of course, would represent a departure from that policy, given that the last time Hodgson heard his name mentioned was in connection with possible inclusion in the under-19 team guided by Aidy Boothroyd.

“I have taken chances [before] in giving young players opportunities and what they have done is taken them,” Hodgson said. “[Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain was [in the squad] in 2012; [Raheem] Sterling was in our squad at 17. Ross Barkley was another one. There are lots of players we have given a chance to and not been disappointed.”