Roy Hodgson named an extended 26-man squad for England's Euro 2016 campaign at Wembley on Monday, with three to miss the final cut before the May 31st deadline.
Here we assess the men in contention to head to France.
Goalkeepers
Joe Hart (Manchester City, 19/04/87, 57 caps, 0 goals)
England’s established number one and an experienced campaigner, Hart has been at the sharp end for club and country for several years. Will be asked to lead and organise.
Fraser Forster (Southampton, 17/03/88, 5 caps, 0 goals)
Returned from 10 months out injured to set a new club record of six straight clean sheets earlier this season. An able deputy.
Tom Heaton (Burnley, 15/04/86, 0 caps, 0 goals)
Named in the Championship team of the season after his consistently solid performances helped the Clarets win the title. As clear third choice he will travel as emergency cover ahead of Ben Foster.
Defence
Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool, 05/04/91, 11, 0 goals)
Now fully settled into life at Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, he brings energy to everything he does from right-back and caught the eye in the friendly win over Germany.
Kyle Walker (Tottenham, 28/05/90, 14 caps, 0 goals)
Has flourished under Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs and will be battling Clyne for a starting spot despite featuring in just one of the qualifiers.
Danny Rose (Tottenham, 02/07/90, 2 caps, 0 goals)
Has timed his run perfectly having only made his senior bow in March, but Rose’s showing against Germany and his form since makes a compelling case for him to start the tournament at left-back.
Gary Cahill (Chelsea, 19/12/85, 41 caps, 3 goals)
A figure of some seniority now, Cahill’s experience is valued by Roy Hodgson, who will be hoping the centre-half will be not be adversely affected by Chelsea’s dire season.
Chris Smalling (Man Utd, 22/11/89, 23 caps, 0 goals)
The post-Ferguson years have not been kind to many at Old Trafford, but Smalling’s authority and consistency have risen and he is rapidly building his international credentials.
Ryan Bertrand (Southampton, 05/08/89, 7 caps, 0 goals)
Still lacking meaningful international experience almost four years after his debut, but continues to impress with Saints and earns his spot in what has become a crowded field at left-back.
John Stones (Everton, 28/05/94), 8 caps, 0 goals)
Still regularly linked with big money transfers to the Champions League elite but dropped by a struggling Everton side earlier in the campaign. Question marks over his confidence, if not his talent, yet remains a big part of the future.
Midfield
Dele Alli (Tottenham, 11/04/96, 6 caps, 1 goal)
The PFA young player of the year and a driving force behind Spurs’ title push, Alli’s versatility and range of skills means England’s main dilemma will be how to get the most from him.
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool, 17/06/90), 23 caps, 0 goals)
A badly-timed knee injury left the midfielder sweating over his place but when fully fit his industry and work-rate are important assets in the anchor role.
James Milner (Liverpool, 04/01/86, 58 caps, 1 goal)
The well-travelled 30-year-old has already hinted he will consider his international future after the tournament, but for now he adds an experienced head to the more dynamic talents around him and can contribute a leadership role without starting.
Eric Dier (Tottenham, 15/01/94, 4 caps, 1 goal)
A revelatory showing at the base of the midfield in the 3-2 friendly win over Germany, when he also opened his goalscoring account, made him a lock-in. Offers defensive nous and comfort on the ball in that role and versatility across the back four.
Fabian Delph (Man City, 05/05/91, 9 caps, 0 goals)
Has struggled without notable success to make himself a first-choice since swapping Aston Villa for the Etihad. He is likely to be on the fringes in France too, but comes with some experience of big European nights.
Adam Lallana (Liverpool, 10/05/88, 21 caps, 0 goals)
A regular fixture in the Roy Hodgson era, but still awaiting his defining moment in the Three Lions. Malleable enough to succeed in a variety of positions and systems, but may have to make the most of limited opportunities.
Ross Barkley (Everton, 05/12/93, 21 caps, 2 goals)
Has had his best season in terms of goals but few would argue Barkley’s progress has been serene. A victim, perhaps, of Everton’s downward trajectory and Hodgson will hope a change of scenery brings out the best in one of his most skilful players.
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal, 01/01/92, 28 caps, 2 goals)
Another season of injury woe for the 24-year-old, but his bad luck ceased in time for him to get back on the pitch before the end of the campaign. Hodgson is a huge admirer of the elegant midfielder and considers him worth a fitness gamble.
Danny Drinkwater (Leicester, 05/03/90, 1 cap, 0 goals)
A Premier League winners' medal, an England debut and now possibly a place on the plane to France: 2016 has been the year of Drinkwater's dreams. But his selection owes nothing to sentiment and everything to his indefatigable showings in the Foxes engine room.
Raheem Sterling (Man City, 08/12/94, 20 caps, 2 goals)
His big money move to the Etihad Stadium has not been a roaring success so far and there is a concerning inconsistency in his game. But he has pace, tricks and unpredictability in his favour and netted twice in qualifying.
Andros Townsend (Newcastle, 16/07/91, 10 caps, 3 goals)
Started the season with his Tottenham career going up in smoke and ended it with relegation. His surge of form at the back end of the season was not enough to keep the Magpies up but it did turn Hodgson’s head.
Forwards
Wayne Rooney (C) (Man Utd, 24/10/85, 109 caps, 51 goals)
Captain. Record goalscorer. Most decorated player in the squad. What more is there to say about Wayne Rooney? Quite a lot, as it turns out. A star in qualifying but outperformed over the past season by a handful of strikers and debate rages as to how best he can now be used.
Harry Kane (Tottenham, 28/07/93, 10 caps, 4 goals)
Has now enjoyed two barnstorming seasons in the Premier League and is the home-grown symbol of Spurs’ compelling rebirth. Has carried that confidence into the early part of his international career and looks England’s most obvious goal threat.
Jamie Vardy (Leicester, 11/01/87, 5 caps, 2 goals)
The more he terrorises defences with his fast, direct runs and tops up his goal tally with a sniper’s precision, the harder it is to believe he ever had to rise so far through the ranks. England will look to harness his hunger.
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool, 01/09/89, 17 caps, 5 goals)
Injury problems meant he slipped off England's radar for the best part of 18 months but while he may not possess the sharpest all-round game he is an instinctive goalscorer and is used to being used in an impact role by Jurgen Klopp.
Marcus Rashford (Man Utd, 31/10/97, 0 caps, 0 goals)
A shock call for the precocious 18-year-old, who has taken his unexpected chance at Manchester United with relish. Seven goals in 16 appearances for the Red Devils is a small sample to work from but there is a fearlessness and verve that has led Hodgson to hand him this chance.
