Marcus Rashford blew the race to make the final England squad for Euro 2016 wide open with his debut goal just two minutes into Friday night's friendly win over Australia. Now it appears to be a straight fight between the teenager and Daniel Sturridge before the provisional squad is cut.
Roy Hodgson still appears keen to take Sturridge on the basis that the Liverpool striker's latest injury setback is only minor. His admission after the Australia game that a continued problem before the selection deadline "might make a difference" almost seemed reluctant.
England expect Daniel Sturridge to be back training by next Tuesday, the same day Roy Hodgson has to submit his final 23-man squad. #lfc
The England boss is caught in two minds: select a player he knows well and has worked with regularly over the last four years, but remains a liability with poor fitness, or choose another who he knows very little about, but is in red-hot form.
Hodgson might think it's a difficult choice to make, but it's really not.
Sturridge has struggled with constant niggling injuries for the best part of the last two years. He wasn't deemed fit enough by Jurgen Klopp to command a regular place in the Liverpool team in the season run-in, so what chance has he of being sharp enough to make a difference for England in France?
The 26-year-old has obvious innate quality, but if his body won't allow him to show it there is absolutely no point having him around when there is someone else already producing the goods.
If Hodgson is concerned that he doesn't know Rashford well enough to pick him, just imagine how opposition defenders will feel about playing against the still relatively unknown teenager. He has the same raw explosiveness that made Wayne Rooney such an asset at Euro 2004, and Michael Owen before that at the World Cup in 1998.
Big win and another goal! ?? pic.twitter.com/nYQpGySa04
That has been plainly evident by the way he took to his role as Manchester United's main striker in the final three months of 2015/16. It was equally evident when he struck against Australia with the very first shot of his senior international career. He has no fear and that will take him a very long way this summer given the opportunity.
Rashford or Sturridge? Come on, Roy, this one's easy.
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