MANCHESTER, England — 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."
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 centre 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 centre backs. Eric Dier, who is included as a midfielder, can drop back into defence 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.
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England:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley)
Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Ross Barkley (Everton), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Andros Townsend (Newcastle), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester)
