Rashford gets England call to continue remarkable rise

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the English FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match against West Ham at Boleyn Ground stadium in London. Teenage striker Marcus Rashford was selected in England’s provisional 26-man squad Monday, May 16, 2016 ahead of the European Championship, less than three months after making his debut for Manchester United. The 18-year-old Rashford has established himself as United’s No. 1 striker in the final months of this season, scoring seven goals, and was one of five strikers selected by coach Roy Hodgson in an enlarged group for warm-up matches against Turkey, Australia and Portugal. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, file)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Three months ago, Marcus Rashford hadn’t started a game above under-19 level.

Now, he is Manchester United’s No. 1 striker and an England squad member with an outside shot at playing in the European Championship.

The 18-year-old Rashford was one of five strikers selected in England’s provisional 26-man squad on Monday ahead of Euro 2016 in France, continuing his remarkable rise from obscurity.

“Some people come from nowhere a bit quicker than others,” England coach Roy Hodgson said, “and his has been more akin to a Wayne Rooney or Raheem Sterling rise.”

England manager Roy Hodgson speaks during the squad announcement at Wembley Stadium, London, Monday, May 16, 2016. Manchester United teenager Marcus Rashford has been included in England’s provisional 26-man squad ahead of the European Championship. The 18-year-old Rashford, who made his debut for United in February, was one of five strikers selected by coach Roy Hodgson on Monday in an enlarged group for warm-up matches against Turkey, Australia and Portugal, before the tournament in France. (Steven Paston/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT – NO SALES – NO ARCHIVES

The squad will be trimmed to 23 by May 31, and Rashford is widely expected to be one of the three to miss out, considering he is competing against Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge, and captain Wayne Rooney for a spot.

But Rashford should not be underestimated. He has proven to be a young man for the big occasion, scoring twice on his United debut in a Europa League match against FC Midtjylland after answering an injury crisis, twice on his Premier League debut against Arsenal three days later, and also the winner in his first Manchester derby.

Rashford has seven goals in 16 appearances for United since February.

England has warm-up matches against Turkey, Australia and Portugal over the next three weeks. Rashford will miss the Turkey game on Sunday because United is playing in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace a day earlier.

He’ll likely have only one friendly to stake his claim, against Australia on May 27, after which Hodgson said he will announce his final squad.

Hodgson has challenged Rashford to knock one of England’s current strikers “off their perch.”

“Marcus taking on that important role of center forward at Manchester United at quite a difficult period of time in the year hasn’t gone unnoticed from our side,” Hodgson said. “We’re keen to see what he can do.

“In the week that we work with him and possibly a game or part of a game that he plays, we might start thinking, ‘We really need this fella, he is actually better than some of the others we were contemplating ahead of him certainly a few months ago.’”

Hodgson said Rashford could become a “regular in the England team” if he continues to develop.

Theo Walcott was the most high-profile omission after failing to start a match for Arsenal since February. Fellow winger Andros Townsend was preferred to Walcott after finishing the Premier League season with impressive displays for relegated Newcastle.

“I wish Roy and all the team the best of luck for a successful Euros,” Walcott wrote on Twitter.

Midfielders Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson were also picked after recently making their returns after injuries but most prove their fitness to Hodgson.

Center back Phil Jagielka and central midfielder Michael Carrick were others to miss out.

Hodgson selected only seven defenders, including three center backs. Eric Dier, who is included as a midfielder, can drop back into defense if necessary

Hodgson must decide what role in the team, if any, Rooney has. The United captain has been playing in midfield in the Premier League run-in, and has been outshone by strikers Vardy and Kane.

“To my knowledge, he isn’t saying, ‘I am demanding I play in the opening game,’” Hodgson said. “He’s not demanding that he plays in this position in the opening game, and I’m under no pressure whatsoever to select him in the opening game unless I feel he’s the best man for the job.”

England is in Group B at Euro 2016 with Russia, Wales, and Slovakia. The tournament runs from June 10-July 10.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez embraces Andros Townsend after the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park stadium in Newcastle, England. Sunday May 15, 2016. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT – NO SALES – NO ARCHIVE