Marcus Rashford: Five reasons why England coach Roy Hodgson must choose Manchester United forward

At his very best, Sturridge is a menacing man. The only problem being you never know when he is going to break down. Can Roy Hodgson really gamble on such an unreliable figure? A calf injury means he is doubtful to feature against the Socceroos on Friday evening handing Rashford his chance from the start in the North East. Sturridge had gone four months without an injury – his longest prolonged spell without injury in some time – before he suffered this latest problem.

He finished the season as Liverpool’s top scorer with 13 goals, including a quite exquisite finish in the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla, but this is a figure who has got in only 58 minutes of football for England since September 2014, and one that has apparently been struck by a full medical A-Z of sports injuries ranging from calf, thigh, knee, ankle, hamstring and a charley horse

It has also been inferred by the Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp that Sturridge is unwilling to play through the pain barrier at the first hint of discomfort suggesting that some of the problems lie between his ears. Hardly the kind of stuff you want when the Three Lions are supposed to be roaring in the heat of a French furnace.

Rashford is only 18 and has turned out in 18 matches for Manchester United since February. Rashford is the youngest man to score in a Manchester derby in England’s elite league at the age of 18 years and 141 days. He has scored eight goals for a poor United side who have just dismissed their manager Louis van Gaal for a mediocre campaign.

If he can impress for such a bang average United team, imagine what he can do with the right support performing with better players under Jose Mourinho? Or a blossoming England team under Roy?

There are many who will remember the Sven-Goran Eriksson experiment when 16-year-old schoolboy Theo Walcott was wheeled out to the World Cup finals in 2006 as a cheerleader yet did not feature in a match. But there is more of an air of Owen at the 1998 World Cup finals about Rashford. Rashford would be doing England a favour if he makes the cut rather than vice-versa.

Owen scored 18 goals in 36 games to earn his place on the place to France. Rashford has produced eight in 18 during a similar cameo since February meaning he is a man who has form on his side. As any bookmaker will tell you, it is not a bad place to start.

"I don't really know what to expect from him,” says Roy ahead of the final match before the England coach must name his 23-man squad on Tuesday.

That sounds as good a reason as any to stick with the element of the unexpected that only a fresh teenage kid can provide. Rashford probably does not know what to expect from himself which makes him an exciting proposition. Not only for the squad, but also for the travelling fans.

Rooney made his debut for against Australia when he was 17 back in 2003 at Upton Park, and now Rashford will follow him into folklore. Which has a nice symmetry to it. As Rooney will testify with his first tournament and four explosive goals at Euro 2004, the burden of expectation does not saddle you down when you have never failed with the national side at these events.

England expects, but perhaps not from the unexpected. Rashford has no previous.

One of the brightest moments of King Louis’s flawed spell at United was his willingness to show faith in Rashford. Hodgson remains a manager who is loyal to his tried and tested figures, but he maintains he is not so old school to be stuck in his ways. He should not throw out men in form. Opting to take Sturridge does not mean you should not take Rashford. Rooney showed the range of his wares with an impressive outing in the FA Cup final operating from a slightly deeper role.

In Rooney’s case, there is room to manoeuvre as he is unlikely to start up front simply because the pace is not there to run in behind defences. Like Rooney, Rashford is also versatile, and has pace to burn. He can play as number 10 or as a striker up top, and is a bit tasty from free-kicks around the opposition area.

Studying the England squad, you would suggest Fabian Delph, Jack Wilshere, Andros Townsend – a figure who will be playing in the Championship with Newcastle United next season - and a Jordan Henderson struggling for fitness should be more at risk of the cull than young Marcus. .

Remember the days when trophies were more valued than league positions? Well, Rashford has just ended the season lifting one. Apart from the Leicester boys of Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater - Willy Caballero was in goal for Manchester City's League Cup final win over Liverpool - who else can make such a claim in the England squad?

Hodgson has already commended the level of Rashford’s play in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace as United recovered from trailing 1-0 to win the trophy 2-1 after extra-time. He suffered a knee injury that forced him off near the end, but recovered to sport a smile as wide as the Wembley pitch to lift the trophy with his companions.

"He's been outstanding," says the Spurs forward Harry Kane, who at the age of 22 is a veteran by comparison. "Full credit to him, he deserves his place. He's young, he's come in and shown no fear of playing on the big stage and he's just expressed himself." Not a bad reference even if Roy has the final call on the situations vacant.